ea Substrate cleaning method and substrate cleaning device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A substrate rotates, and a liquid nozzle of a gas/liquid supply nozzle moves to a position above the center of the rotating substrate. In this state, a rinse liquid is discharged from the liquid nozzle onto the rotating substrate. The gas/liquid supply nozzle moves toward a position outside the substrate. A gas nozzle reaches the position above the center of the rotating substrate, so that the gas/liquid supply nozzle temporarily stops. With the gas/liquid supply nozzle stopping, an inert gas is discharged onto the center of the rotating substrate for a given period of time. After that, the gas/liquid supply nozzle again moves toward the position outside the substrate. Full Article
ea Method and apparatus for cleaning a film seperating device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for cleaning a film separating device involves: a) performing positive-direction water cleaning when the ratio between the film filter resistance and the preliminary film filter resistance is less than 1.2; b) performing reverse water cleaning when the ratio between the film filter resistance and the preliminary film filter resistance is greater-than or equal-to 1.2; c) performing reverse chemical cleaning when the ratio between the film filter resistance and the preliminary film filter resistance is greater-than or equal-to 2; d) performing positive-direction chemical cleaning when the ratio between the film filter resistance and the preliminary film filter resistance is greater-than or equal-to 3. Full Article
ea Surface treatment composition and surface treatment method using same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A surface treatment composition of the present invention contains a first surfactant, a second surfactant, a basic compound, and water. The surface treatment composition has a pH of 8 or more. The second surfactant has a weight-average molecular weight one-half or less that of the first surfactant. The sum of the content of the first surfactant and the content of the second surfactant is 0.00001 to 0.1% by mass. Full Article
ea Fluid applicator and glass cleaning process By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A fluid applicator (20), for cleaning particles from a glass sheet (2), including a conveyor (40) for supporting the glass sheet, a conveyance plane, and a nozzle (24). The conveyance plane is disposed adjacent the conveyor so that when the glass sheet is conveyed by the conveyor, a surface (6) of the glass sheet is disposed in the conveyance plane. The nozzle has a longitudinal axis (23), wherein the longitudinal axis is disposed at an angle of 30 to 90 degrees with respect to the conveyance plane, and the nozzle is disposed at a distance (21) of less than or equal to 100 mm from the conveyance plane. Also, there is disclosed a method for cleaning particles from a glass sheet, using the fluid applicator. The fluid may be delivered to the nozzle at a pressure of 10 to 80 kg/cm2 and a flow rate of from 1 to 20 l/min. Full Article
ea Cleaning system having heated cleaning enclosure for cleaning heat exchanger tube bundles By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An improved portable cleaning system for use in cleaning heat exchanger tube bundles, fin-fans, towers and other elongated components. The cleaning system comprises a cleaning unit having a cleaning enclosure that receives and cleans the component and a control unit that controls the operation of the system. The cleaning unit has a cleaning enclosure defining a chamber sized and configured to receive the component through a sealable lid. A roller assembly rotates the component while a spray assembly sprays cleaning fluid over and into the rotating component. The cleaning fluid is heated in the chamber using surface heating elements attached to heat transfer plates along sections of the chamber walls. A vapor recovery system captures and treats toxic vapors. In use, the cleaning system is transported to a facility to clean the components on-site using cleaning fluid supplied by the facility and discharging waste to the facility. Full Article
ea Dishwasher comprising at least one rotatable spray arm By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A dishwasher includes a dishwashing compartment and a rack provided in the dishwashing compartment for holding items to be cleaned. A rotatable spray arm is associated with the rack for applying water or wash liquor liquid upon the items. Water or wash liquor liquid is supplied to the spray arm via an upright supply tube having at least one region which flares in a direction of the spray arm and a peripheral terminal end facing the spray arm. The terminal end of the supply tube is configured to project into the cavity and thereby is extended into the spray arm. Full Article
ea Painting implement cleaning and support apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A painting implement cleaning and storage apparatus 10 is provided. The apparatus facilitates the cleaning and storage of painting implements such as a roller 12, a brush 14 and a roller pan 16. The apparatus includes a base 18 and a bracket 32 coupled to the base. The roller 12 is supported on the bracket 32 in an upwardly extending diagonal position between shields 45 and 54 for containing paint spreads from the roller. The brush 14 is supported on bracket 32 in a upwardly projecting position. A roller pan 16 is coupable to shield 45 and supported thereon in a descending position. Once the painting implements 12, 14 and 16 are supported on the apparatus 10, cleaning can be accomplished by the application of a stream of water thereto after which the implements can be left until they are needed. Full Article
ea Cleaning compositions for use in closed loop cleaning machines By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Embodiments of the present disclosure include cleaning processes, closed loop cleaning machines, and methods of cleaning an article. The cleaning process includes contacting a surface of an article with a cleaning composition in a cleaning chamber, where the cleaning composition includes at least about 85 percent by weight organic solvents, based on total weight of the cleaning composition, and where at least about 5 percent by weight of the organic solvents is propylene glycol, based on total weight of the organic solvents, to clean the surface of the article, collecting the cleaning composition including contaminants, and recovering the cleaning composition via distillation, where a distillation apparatus removes the contaminants from the cleaning composition and is connected to the cleaning chamber by a process stream. Full Article
ea Method of cleaning tubes By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for grit blasting tubes and for blowing swabs through tubes, automatically sensing that the swab has passed through the tube, and logging the event. Also, various methods are used for inserting the swabs into the tubes efficiently. Full Article
ea Dishwasher with shared heater By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An automatic dishwasher having a heater shared by the recirculation system and the air supply system to heat the liquid in the recirculation system and the air in the air supply system. Full Article
ea Reticle chuck cleaner By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT According to one embodiment, a reticle chuck cleaner for cleaning a reticle chuck of an EUV exposure apparatus includes a substrate having a shape to be carried to the reticle chuck of the EUV exposure apparatus, and an adhesive formed on one of the main surfaces of the substrate. Full Article
ea Cleaning machine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A cleaning machine for containers, containing a housing in which various treatment stations, including a feed station and a discharge station, are accommodated, whereby the housing has two side walls located opposite each other. In order to simplify the installation of the cleaning machine, a modular construction is used, whereby at least the discharge station is formed as a module. Full Article
ea Tools and methods for processing microelectronic workpieces using process chamber designs that easily transition between open and closed modes of operation By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Strategies for tool designs and their uses wherein the tools can operate in either closed or open modes of operation. The tools easily transition between open and closed modes on demand. According to one general strategy, environmentally controlled pathway(s) couple the ambient to one or more process chambers. Air amplification capabilities upstream from the process chamber(s) allow substantial flows of air to be introduced into the process chamber(s) on demand. Alternatively, the fluid pathways are easily closed, such as by simple valve actuation, to block egress to the ambient through these pathways. Alternative flows of nonambient fluids can then be introduced into the process chamber(s) via pathways that are at least partially in common with the pathways used for ambient air introduction. In other strategies, gap(s) between moveable components are sealed at least with flowing gas curtains rather than by relying only upon direct physical contact for sealing. Full Article
ea Cleaning and/or unblocking of process equipment By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method of cleaning an internal component (14) of a process vessel (10) includes opening a guide (42) extending at least from a vessel access port or entry nozzle (38) to the internal component (14), guiding a cleaning agent/device by means of the guide (42) to the internal component (14), cleaning the internal component (14) with the cleaning agent/device, and closing the guide (42). The process vessel (10) is then operated with the guide (42) remaining in the process vessel (10). Full Article
ea Cleaning system for a beverage machine, preferably a coffee machine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to a cleaning system for coffee machines, comprising a cleaning device for periodically cleaning the coffee- and/or milk-carrying components using a cleaning liquid, which contains cleaning agent in the form of balls or tablets dissolved therein, wherein the cleaning device is provided with a time- and/or product-cycle-dependent controller and a metering apparatus (1) for the cleaning agent (10) that interacts with the controller. Thus, it is possible to program the cleaning process in a customized manner according to the mode of operation and to carry out the cleaning process fully automatically according to the program. The metering of the cleaning agent (10) according to the program ensures an always optimal cleaning effect together with sparing use of cleaning agents. Simple and safe handling is achieved by using ball- or tablet-shaped cleaning agents. Full Article
ea Steam cleaning apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A steam cleaning apparatus including a main body having a main switch, a steam cleaning head coupled to the main body, and a position sensitive switch having a first state when the steam apparatus is in a substantially vertical storage position and a second state when the steam cleaning apparatus is in a tilted, cleaning position, the position sensitive switch being connected in electrical series with the main switch such that when the position-sensitive switch is in the first state the position-sensitive switch interrupts the flow of electrical current from the main switch and when the position-sensitive switch is in the second state, electrical power is supplied by the main switch. Full Article
ea Low foam media cleaning detergent with nonionic surfactants By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A detergent for cleaning media is provided. The detergent comprises deionized water, between about 1% and about 5% by weight of a nonionic surfactant having an hydrophile/lipophile balance (HLB) value between about 10 and about 20, and an ethoxylation level between about 5 and about 20, between about 1% and about 5% by weight of a dispersing agent, between about 3% and about 10% by weight of a chelating agent comprising phosphonic acid, and between about 2% and about 6% by weight of an inorganic salt. Full Article
ea Method and apparatus for multiple cutoff machining of rare earth magnet block, cutting fluid feed nozzle, and magnet block securing jig By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Jun 2014 08:00:00 EDT In a method for multiple cutoff machining a rare earth magnet block, a cutting fluid feed nozzle having a plurality of slits is combined with a plurality of cutoff abrasive blades coaxially mounted on a rotating shaft, each said blade comprising a base disk and a peripheral cutting part. The slits in the feed nozzle into which the outer peripheral portions of cutoff abrasive blades are inserted serve to restrict any axial run-out of the cutoff abrasive blades during rotation. Cutting fluid is fed from the feed nozzle through slits to the rotating cutoff abrasive blades and eventually to points of cutoff machining on the magnet block. Full Article
ea Slot wear indicator for a grinding tool By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Oct 2014 08:00:00 EDT Wear indicators for abrasive articles are presented. Specifically, indicator marks that are parallel to a bonding edge of a grinding element are presented. Tools comprising a carrier element and one or more grinding elements comprising one or more indicators are also presented. Full Article
ea Self-cleaning wiresaw apparatus and method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Oct 2014 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides a self-cleaning wiresaw cutting apparatus including a cleaning mechanism adapted to clean the components of the wiresaw before, during, or after a cutting process or to humidify the cutting region of the apparatus. The apparatus contains at least one dispenser adapted to dispense an aqueous fluid onto various components of the wiresaw. Full Article
ea Wire saw with tension detecting means and guide roller speed control By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST The present invention provides a wire saw which cuts a workpiece using a cutting wire and is capable of adjusting wire tension with high responsiveness. The wire saw includes first and second workpiece cutting units 1A and 1B. Each of the workpiece cutting units 1A and 1B includes a pair of guide rollers 10a and 10b around which a wire W is wound to form a workpiece-cutting wire group. The wire saw further includes a tension detector 18 which detects tension in the wire W between the workpiece cutting units 1A and 1B, and a control device 50. The control device 50 changes a rotational speed of the guide rollers 10a and 10b of at least one of the workpiece cutting units based on the tension detected by the tension detector 18 so as to keep the tension within an acceptable range. Full Article
ea Gear grinding machine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST Provided is a gear grinding machine the maintainability of which can be improved and which is capable of being miniaturized. More specifically, provided is a gear grinding machine wherein a threaded grinding stone (17) and a workpiece (W) are engaged with each other and are rotated in this state, resulting in the workpiece (W) being ground, and wherein between a dressing position (P2) where the threaded grinding stone (17) can be dressed and a retreat position (P1) to which a retreat is made from the dressing position (P2) during grinding, a disk dresser (66) which, by being driven into rotation, dresses the threaded grinding stone (17) is swung about an axis (C2) which is parallel to an axis (C1) that is the rotational axis for the workpiece (W) and which intersects, at right angles, the direction in which the threaded grinding stone (17) is fed toward the workpiece (W). Full Article
ea Dressing device for a grinding wheel and its use in a centreless nuclear fuel pellet grinder By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to a device for dressing a grinding wheel, comprising a sleeve to hold a corundum rod laterally and to guide it along its longitudinal axis, a ram to apply constant thrust force onto the corundum rod held in place and guided in the sleeve, to bring it into contact with the grinding wheel, means of rigidly connecting the ram shaft to the end of the corundum rod, and linear guide means for the sleeve for translating the corundum rod parallel to the axis of the grinding wheel while keeping the rod pressed against the grinding wheel with a constant force. Application to a centerless grinder in which the grinding wheel is used to grind nuclear fuel pellets. Full Article
ea Methods of forming earth-boring tools By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method of forming an earth-boring tool includes introducing metal into a die, rotating the die to generate centrifugal forces on the metal, and cooling the metal in the rotating die. A rotary drill bit may include a unitary, centrifugally cast bit body including an integral shank, at least one blade, and at least one cutting element on the blade. A rotary drill bit or a roller cone may include a first centrifugally cast material and a second centrifugally cast material. Another rotary drill bit includes a bit body comprising a maraging steel alloy. A method of forming a rotary drill bit may include disposing cutting elements on a rotary drill bit comprising maraging steel and aging the rotary drill bit to form at least one intermetallic precipitate phase. Methods of repairing a rotary drill bit include annealing and aging at least a portion of a rotary drill bit. Full Article
ea Bearing component for a rolling bearing or for a sliding bearing By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The invention concerns a bearing component (Ia, Ib, 1, 7, 9) for a rolling (13, 14, 16) or sliding bearing (19), wherein the bearing component (Ia, Ib, 1, 7, 9) is one of an inner ring (Ia, 1), an outer ring (Ib, 7), a rolling element (9), a cage, or a guide ring. The bearing component (Ia, Ib, 1, 7, 9) comprises a first material (2), and a second material (3) joined to the first material (2), wherein the second material (3) and the first material (2) having been joined by a semi-solid metal process. Full Article
ea Non-electroslag remelting type clean metal ingot mold By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A non-electroslag remelting type clean metal ingot mold includes an ingot mold body and a insulating riser arranged on the ingot mold body; an insulated heating and heat preservation device is vertically arranged in the ingot mold body and divides the space in the ingot mold body into a plurality of independent cavity units; and the cavity units are distributed in two rows in the ingot mold body. Because the insulated heating and heat preservation device is arranged in the ingot mold body and divides the space in the ingot mold body into a plurality of independent cavity units, most of impurities and segregates in liquid metals are enriched in the part in contact with the isolation and heat insulation mechanism during the directional solidification and crystallization of the liquid metals and the enriched alloy segregates, and the impurities can be easily eliminated by utilizing flame or other processing methods. Full Article
ea Clean metal ingot mold By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A clean metal ingot mold comprises an ingot mold body and an insulating riser arranged on the ingot mold body. The bottom mold plate of the ingot mold is provided with at least a ridge connected thereto. The region having a V-shape containing impurities produced during the crystallization process of the liquid metal moves upwards because of the ridge, and then the impurities depart from the center of the cast ingot and the impurities are more centralized. A water-cooling device is arranged in the ridge to allow the temperature of the metal in the ingot mold to decrease rapidly, and the crystallization process of the metal to be rapid. Full Article
ea Method for the manufacture of casting molds and a device for realizing the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method of pulsed-air compacting of mold-sand in combination with compacting by compression supplements the pulsed-air compacting of the mold-sand by an operation of re-compacting the mold-sand by pressing which is performed with the pattern plate containing the patterns by the plate moving inside the cavity of the filling frame in the direction of the latticed pressing element which is subjected to a counter-pressure force corresponding in its value to the prescribed level of the half mold compaction. The method is realized with a device in which the pattern plate containing the patterns is mounted with the possibility of a reciprocal motion inside the cavity of the filling frame, and the pressing cylinder is mounted with the possibility to apply a force against the movable pattern plate. Full Article
ea Process and refractory metal core for creating varying thickness microcircuits for turbine engine components By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT The present disclosure is directed to a refractory metal core for use in forming varying thickness microcircuits in turbine engine components, a process for forming the refractory metal core, and a process for forming the turbine engine components. The refractory metal core is used in the casting of a turbine engine component. The core is formed by a sheet of refractory metal material having a curved trailing edge portion integrally formed with a leading edge portion. Full Article
ea Systems and methods for producing a hardwearing alloy material By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Described herein are systems and methods for producing a hardwearing or wear-resistant material. In one aspect, a first group of materials comprising zirconium dioxide (ZrO2), aluminum oxide (Al2O3), and one or both of calcium oxide (CaO) and yttrium oxide (Y2O3) may be mixed, heated, and cooled to yield a first mixture. The first mixture may be used to generate granules that may then be mixed with a second group of materials comprising iron, nickel, manganese, titanium, carbon, chromium, and optionally, a paraffin, to yield a second mixture. The second mixture may then be compressed, cast, cooled, and heat treated to yield the hardwearing or wear-resistant material. Full Article
ea Casting of internal features within a product By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method of forming a cast product (30) by providing a core (52) having a plurality of sections (54) and one or more gaps (55) there-between. The core further includes an insert member (60) spanning the gap (55) between adjacent sections (54). The core (52) is located within a mold (68) and a liquid phase material is introduced into gap (55) between the core sections. The liquid phase material is solidified in the gap so as to form a cast feature of a resulting solid product and the core sections (54) are removed from the solid product (30) such that the insert member (60) remains securely held within the feature (74). Full Article
ea Method for producing a trailing arm of a twist beam axle in which a drive unit of an electrical drive close to the wheel, comprising an electrical engine and a transmission, is integrated By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method of producing a trailing arm of a torsion beam axle in which an integrated drive unit of a wheel-adjacent electric drive has an electric machine and a transmission. By using the method, the trailing arm is produced in the form of a casting with a box profile. The contours for producing the area that accommodates the transmission, the connection point to the vehicle body, the bore that receives the cross-member which connects the two trailing arms to one another, the U-profile of the trailing arm, the box profile and the area that accommodates the electric machine, are modeled by cores such that the contours for producing the connection point of the trailing arm to the vehicle body, the bore that receives the cross-member and the U-profile of the trailing arm are modeled by one core. Full Article
ea Foundry mixture and related methods for casting and cleaning cast metal parts By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A foundry mixture for making molds used for molding cast metal parts includes foundry sand, a non-aqueous binder, and a cleaning agent that includes calcium oxide. Residual foundry mixture remaining on the cast part after removal from the mold is removed by electrolytic cleaning of the cast part. Full Article
ea Bituminous froth inline steam injection processing By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 01 Apr 2014 08:00:00 EDT An inline bitumen froth steam heater system including steam injection and static mixing devices is provided. The system heats and de-aerates input bitumen froth without creating downstream processing problems with the bitumen froth such as emulsification or live steam entrainment. The system is a multistage unit that injects and thoroughly mixes steam with bitumen resulting in output bitumen material having temperature of about 190° F. The system conditions a superheated steam supply to obtain saturated steam at about 300° F. The saturated steam is contacted with bitumen froth flow and mixed in a static mixer stage. The static mixers provide surface area and rotating action that allows the injected steam to condense and transfer its heat to the bitumen froth. The mixing action and increase in temperature of the bitumen froth results in reduction in bitumen viscosity and allows the release of entrapped air from the bitumen froth. Full Article
ea Oil sands treatment system and process By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 01 Apr 2014 08:00:00 EDT Oil sands ore containing bitumen is treated in a reactor chamber by ultrasonic oscillations impact such that cavitation of ore molecules occurs. The disintegration of the pulsating bubbles in the cavitation results in the separation of the oil, water, sand and air fractions of the oil sands. The oil fraction may be continuously extracted for subsequent refining processes. Full Article
ea Treatment of hydrocarbon fluids with ozone By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 20 May 2014 08:00:00 EDT A system for separating contaminants from wellbore cuttings that includes a processing chamber, a heat source connected to the processing chamber adapted to vaporize hydrocarbons and other contaminants disposed on the material, a condenser operatively connected to an outlet of the process chamber and adapted to condense the vaporized hydrocarbons and other contaminants, and an ozone source operatively connected to the condenser. Full Article
ea Method for removing solute from a solid solute-bearing product By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Jun 2014 08:00:00 EDT The process and apparatus are for removing a solute from a solute-bearing solid product by means of a solvent which remains in liquid state throughout the entire oil extraction process. In one embodiment, the solvent is normally in gaseous state at ambient temperature and pressure values, but is used mainly in liquid state within the method and apparatus of the present invention by maintaining such pressure and temperature values within the apparatus so that the solvent will remain in this liquid state. Full Article
ea Apparatus and methods for utilizing heat exchanger tubes By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Jun 2014 08:00:00 EDT In one aspect, the present techniques include a heat exchange apparatus including: a) a body comprising an interior cavity, the body including: a first surface and a second surface defining at least a portion of the body and the first surface positioned exterior with respect to the second surface and the interior cavity, and the second surface positioned exterior with respect to the interior cavity and interior with respect to the first surface; b) a first conduit for conveying a fluid to the body; c) a second conduit in fluid communication with the first conduit wherein the second conduit is positioned at least partially within the interior cavity of the body; and d) a joint between the first conduit and the second conduit, wherein the joint moves between a first location and a second location based on the temperature within the interior cavity, wherein at least one of said first location and said second location is positioned intermediate the first surface and the second surface. Full Article
ea Optimizing feed mixer performance in a paraffinic froth treatment process By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Jun 2014 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to improved bitumen recovery processes and systems. One process provides for operation of a bitumen froth treatment plant at optimum shear rates in the feed pipe carrying the bitumen froth to the froth settling unit. Another process provides for optimizing the design of a bitumen froth treatment plant by optimizing the diameter of the feed pipe to impart an optimum shear rate to the bitumen froth mixture and further optimizing the volume of the feed pipe to impart an optimum residence time for the bitumen froth stream in the feed pipe. An optimal plant design is also disclosed, the plant including optimal diameter and volume of the feed pipe. Full Article
ea Crude treatment system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 08 Jul 2014 08:00:00 EDT A crude treatment system includes a primary and second distillation tower for treating crude containing corrosive material. The primary distillation tower fractionates first crude into a target fraction. The secondary distillation tower fractionates second crude having a corrosive material content greater than that of the first crude into a light fraction and a remaining heavy fraction. Corrosive material in the light fraction is insufficient to corrode the primary distillation tower. A light fraction supply line supplies the light fraction from the secondary distillation tower to the primary distillation tower for treatment. The secondary distillation tower and the supply line are made from a corrosion resistant material. Full Article
ea Intertwined tube coil arrangement for a delayed coker heater By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 08 Jul 2014 08:00:00 EDT A tube coil for a double fired coker heater wherein the tube coil has at least two independent flow passes in an intertwined serpentine pattern. The tubes are located in a common plane and plumbed in parallel with one another. These tube coils can be used in a number of configurations within the radiant section of a coker heater. Full Article
ea Process for the treatment of crude oil, process for the separation of a water-in-oil hydrocarbon emulsion and apparatus for implementing the same By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 29 Jul 2014 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to a process for the purification of crude and apparatus for its implementation. This process comprises a separation into gas and degassed emulsion and separation of the degassed emulsion into water and oil. The invention also relates to a process of separating a hydrocarbon emulsion and apparatus for implementing this. This process comprises washing of the emulsion at an oil/water interface. Full Article
ea Method of produced water treatment, method of water reuse, and systems for these methods By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Aug 2014 08:00:00 EDT A method of produced water treatment in an in-situ recovery method of producing bitumen from oil sand, the method has the steps of: separating bitumen from bitumen-mixed fluid so as to leave produced water, the bitumen-mixed fluid having been recovered from the oil sand wells; and filtering the produced water via a microfiltration membrane made of polytetrafluoroethylene. Full Article
ea Apparatus for removing heavy polynuclear aromatic compounds from a hydroprocessed stream By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Oct 2014 08:00:00 EDT An improved apparatus strips HPNA's from hydroprocessed streams in a fractionation column having a split shell configuration. Only one vapor stripping feed is required to the split shell of the fractionation column. The resulting reduction in steam requirement provides a superior fractionation in the column. Full Article
ea Reaction system and products therefrom By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST A reaction system and method for removing heteroatoms from oxidized-heteroatom-containing hydrocarbon streams and products derived therefrom are disclosed. An oxidized-heteroatom-containing hydrocarbon feed is reacted in a reaction system thereby forming non-ionic hydrocarbon products. The products derived therefrom are useful as transportation fuels, lubricants, refinery intermediates, or refinery feeds. Full Article
ea In-line treatment of hydrocarbon fluids with ozone By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST A system for treating recovered fluids in-line that includes a thermal reactor for separating contaminated drill cuttings into drill cuttings and contaminants by applying heat to the contaminated drill cuttings so as to vaporize contaminants from the contaminated drill cuttings; a first condenser in fluid connection with the thermal reactor for condensing the vaporized contaminants; a separator in fluid connection with the first condenser for separating the condensed vapors into an oleaginous liquid and an aqueous liquid, wherein at least a portion of one of the aqueous liquid and oleaginous liquid is fed back into the first condenser via a feedback line; and an ozone generator operatively coupled to the feedback line, wherein at least the portion of the fed back liquid is ozonated by the ozone generator and fed into the condenser is disclosed. Full Article
ea System and process for integrated oxidative desulfurization, desalting and deasphalting of hydrocarbon feedstocks By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A system and process for integrated desulfurizing, desalting and deasphalting of hydrocarbon feedstocks is provided. A hydrocarbon feedstock, a water soluble oxidant, and a water soluble catalyst can be introduced in a oxidation zone and retained for a period of time sufficient to achieve the desired degree of desulfurization, or introduced directly into the desalting zone along with wash water. Catalyst and dissolved salt are discharged along with the wastewater effluent from the desalting zone. A hydrocarbon stream including converted hydrocarbons and oxidation by-products is passed to a deasphalting zone. In the deasphalting zone, phase separation occurs, whereby a light phase including desulfurized hydrocarbons are produced, and a heavy phase including asphaltenes and oxidation by-products are discharged, e.g., passed to an asphalt pool. Full Article
ea Method of making a knit apparel with a tie dyed appearance and an apparel made by the method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 20 May 2014 08:00:00 EDT A knit apparel is made using a decorating pattern that is generated to give the apparel the appearance of tie dyed apparel. The decorating pattern includes a main element, a secondary element and intermediate zones have the same color but gradually lighter shades as the main element. Full Article
ea Methods and implants for treating urinary incontinence By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 20 May 2014 08:00:00 EDT Described are methods, implants, insertion tools, and related systems and kits, for placing an implant to treat urinary incontinence; the implants include soft tissue anchors that are capable of engaging needles of the insertion tools, and the implants are designed to place a central support portion at a location to support a urethra with extension portions and soft tissue anchors extending to tissue at regions of an obturator foramen. Full Article
ea Method for manufacturing weaving material from nonwoven By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 Aug 2014 08:00:00 EDT The present invention provides a method for producing thread using nonwoven, which discloses that nonwoven having different materials is slit first to get a plurality of nonwoven threads and then the nonwoven threads are used for performing a twisting process to get a plurality of nonwoven yarns. In the twisting process, each of the nonwoven threads has different materials, so that the nonwoven yarns have good mechanical characteristic and can be added for producing textiles with various functionalities. Full Article