Patent application number | Description | Published |
20140263620 | PICKER FOR USE WITH AN AUTOMATED BANKING MACHINE - In an example embodiment, there is disclosed herein a picker that is operable to separate an individual sheet from a stack of sheets. The picker has a first rotatable picker member that includes a first high friction peripheral arcuate segment, where the first picker member is rotatable about an axis, a second rotatable member that includes a second high friction peripheral arcuate segment, wherein the second picker member is rotatable about the axis, and a drive in operative connection with the first and second rotatable picker members. The stack includes a bounding sheet having a sheet face bounding a side of the stack. The first and second arcuate segments are operable to concurrently engage the sheet face. The first and second picker members are operable to be separately rotationally movable about the axis responsive to operation of the drive. | 09-18-2014 |
20140353375 | BANKING APPARATUS CONTROLLED RESPONSIVE TO DATA BEARING RECORDS - A banking system is controlled responsive, at least in part, to data read from data bearing records. The banking system includes an automated banking machine. The machine is operable to carry out a financial transaction responsive to a determination that data read from a data bearing record, such as a card that is read by a card reader in the machine, corresponds to stored information for an authorized user or financial account. The machine is operable to receive and dispense documents. The machine includes a check acceptor that is operative to receive checks and a cash dispenser that is operative to dispense cash. Document holding cassettes in the machine include circuitry that is wirelessly powered through inductive coupling. The machine can wirelessly read data from a cassette through use of induction. | 12-04-2014 |
20150194022 | BANKING APPARATUS CONTROLLED RESPONSIVE TO DATA BEARING RECORDS - A banking system is controlled responsive, at least in part, to data read from data bearing records. The banking system includes an automated banking machine. The machine is operable to carry out a financial transaction responsive to a determination that data read from a data bearing record, such as a card that is read by a card reader in the machine, corresponds to stored information for an authorized user or financial account. The machine is operable to receive and dispense documents. The machine includes a check acceptor that is operative to receive checks and a cash dispenser that is operative to dispense cash. Document holding cassettes in the machine include circuitry that is wirelessly powered through inductive coupling. The machine can wirelessly read data from a cassette through use of induction. | 07-09-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090183743 | CIGAR PUNCTURE TOOL WITH CYLINDRICAL BODY AND INNER SPIKE - A generally cylindrical shaped cigar puncture tool incorporating a spring loaded and locating/guiding disk element arranged in conjunction with a linearly extending and base supported spike. Centered puncturing of the closed head occurs in a first downward translating direction of the cigar within the open interior of the tool. A return spring bias causing even disengaging of the cigar in a second reverse direction. The sizing of an aperture in the disk further allows passage therethrough of the spike, while preventing debris from the cigar head cluttering the puncture zone within the tool. | 07-23-2009 |
20120103482 | CONDENSOR COIL WIND GUARD AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLY - A covering for use with an outdoor located unit defining an opening which exhibits a plurality of cold temperature sensitive components such as heat dissipating coils or cooling tower coils. A plurality of fasteners are secured to a face of the unit at locations proximate to at least one surrounding side of the opening. The fasteners secure to perimeter extending locations associated with an impermeable layer of material arranged over the opening in order to prevent air movement, ice, and snow through said opening in contact with the coils. | 05-03-2012 |
20130036704 | CHANNEL LOCK FILTER FASTENING SYSTEM FOR USE WITH AN AIR INTAKE STRUCTURE - A fastening system for applying a covering material over an opening of a structure. At least one elongated rail is secured to a fascia of the structure in extending fashion proximate the opening and exhibits a shape with a forwardly projecting support surface within which is configured a narrowed slot. A plurality of fasteners each include a planar shaped base installable through an accessible end location of each of the rails so as to be traversable along an interior channel defined in the rail. A further rotatable portion of each fastener projects from the base through the outwardly facing slot to be rotated from a first position aligning with and seating over perimeter defined receiving apertures of the covering material to a second position in order to affix the material. | 02-14-2013 |
20130037666 | CHANNEL LOCK FILTER FASTENING SYSTEM FOR USE WITH AN AIR INTAKE STRUCTURE - A fastening system for applying, over an intake opening and surrounding fascia of a structure, a filter screen exhibiting a reinforced extending perimeter within which is configured a plurality of grommets. Any number of elongated rails are provided and which are adapted to being secured to the fascia at locations surrounding the intake opening, such including a first horizontally (upper and lower) extending pair alone or in combination with a second vertical side extending pair. Each of the rails exhibits a three dimensional cross sectional shape with a forwardly projecting support surface within which is configured an outwardly facing narrowed slot. A plurality of bolt head fasteners are successively installable through an accessible end location of the rail and are traversable along an interior channel. A threaded shaft of each bolt fastener projects through the outwardly facing slot and, upon the grommets aligning with and seating over the projecting shafts, a plurality of nuts are tightened upon the exposed shafts in order to affix the filter. | 02-14-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100237291 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SOLAR-THERMAL GASIFICATION OF BIOMASS - A method, apparatus, and system for a solar-driven chemical plant that may include a solar thermal receiver having a cavity with an inner wall, where the solar thermal receiver is aligned to absorb concentrated solar energy from one or more of 1) an array of heliostats, 2) solar concentrating dishes, and 3) any combination of the two. Some embodiments may include a solar-driven chemical reactor having multiple reactor tubes located inside the cavity of solar thermal receiver, wherein a chemical reaction driven by radiant heat occurs in the multiple reactor tubes, and wherein particles of biomass are gasified in the presence of a steam (H2O) carrier gas and methane (CH4) in a simultaneous steam reformation and steam biomass gasification reaction to produce reaction products that include hydrogen and carbon monoxide gas using the solar thermal energy from the absorbed concentrated solar energy in the multiple reactor tubes. | 09-23-2010 |
20100242352 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR REACTOR AND RECEIVER CONTROL OF FLUX PROFILE - A method, apparatus, and system for a solar-driven chemical reactor are disclosed, including a solar thermal receiver aligned to absorb concentrated solar energy. Some embodiments include a solar driven chemical reactor that has multiple reactor tubes. Some embodiments include one of 1) one or more apertures open to an atmosphere of the Earth or 2) one or more windows, to pass the concentrated solar energy into the solar thermal receiver. This energy impinges on the multiple reactor tubes and cavity walls of the receiver and transfer energy by solar radiation absorption and heat radiation, convection, and conduction. In this way, the energy causes reacting particles to drive the endothermic chemical reaction flowing in the reactor tubes. The design of the multiple reactor tubes and solar thermal receiver can be adapted per a solar flux profile to take advantage of variations in the concentrations of solar flux in the profile. | 09-30-2010 |
20100242353 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR BIOMASS GRINDING AND FEEDING - A method, apparatus, and system for a solar-driven bio-refinery that may include a entrained-flow biomass feed system that is feedstock flexible via particle size control of the biomass. Some embodiments include a chemical reactor that receives concentrated solar thermal energy from an array of heliostats. The entrained-flow biomass feed system can use an entrainment carrier gas and supplies a variety of biomass sources fed as particles into the solar-driven chemical reactor. Biomass sources in a raw state or partially torrified state may be used, as long as parameters such as particle size of the biomass are controlled. Additionally, concentrated solar thermal energy can drive gasification of the particles. An on-site fuel synthesis reactor may receive the hydrogen and carbon monoxide products from the gasification reaction use the hydrogen and carbon monoxide products in a hydrocarbon fuel synthesis process to create a liquid hydrocarbon fuel. | 09-30-2010 |
20100243961 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR QUENCHING, GAS CLEAN UP, AND ASH REMOVAL - A method, apparatus, and system for a solar-driven chemical plant are disclosed. An embodiment may include a solar thermal receiver aligned to absorb concentrated solar energy from one or more solar energy concentrating fields. A solar driven chemical reactor may include multiple reactor tubes located inside the solar thermal receiver. The multiple reactor tubes can be used to gasify particles of biomass in the presence of a carrier gas. The gasification reaction may produce reaction products that include hydrogen and carbon monoxide gas having an exit temperature from the tubes exceeding 1000 degrees C. An embodiment can include a quench zone immediately downstream of an exit of the chemical reactor. The quench zone may immediately quench via rapid cooling of at least the hydrogen and carbon monoxide reaction products within 0.1-10 seconds of exiting the chemical reactor to a temperature of 800 degrees C. or less. | 09-30-2010 |
20100249468 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AN INTEGRATED SOLAR DRIVEN CHEMICAL PLANT - A method, apparatus, and system for an integrated solar-driven chemical plant that manages variations in solar energy are disclosed. In some embodiments, a chemical reactant, including particles of biomass, are converted in a solar driven chemical reactor into synthesis gas containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen using concentrated solar energy to drive the conversion of the chemical reactant. The synthesis gas is supplied for a catalytic conversion of the synthesis gas in a methanol synthesis plant to methanol. Cycling occurs between an operational state and an idle state for a number of methanol trains in the methanol synthesis plant depending upon an amount of synthesis gas generated in the solar driven chemical reactor. A control system for the chemical reactor sends control signals to and receives feedback from a control system for the methanol synthesis plant. | 09-30-2010 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080210596 | PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING NATURAL GAS TO HIGHER MOLECULAR WEIGHT HYDROCARBONS USING MICROCHANNEL PROCESS TECHNOLOGY - The disclosed invention relates to a process and apparatus for converting natural gas to higher molecular weight hydrocarbons. The process includes steam reforming to form synthesis gas followed by a Fischer-Tropsch reaction to convert the synthesis gas to the high molecular weight hydrocarbons. The reforming and Fischer-Tropsch reactions are conducted in microchannel reactors. The higher molecular weight hydrocarbons may be further treated to form hydrocarbon products such as middle distillate fuels, lubricating oils, and the like. The apparatus includes vessels containing SMR microchannel reactors and Fischer-Tropsch microchannel reactors. A composition comprising a mixture of olefins and paraffins is disclosed. | 09-04-2008 |
20090259076 | PROCESS FOR CONVERTING A CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL TO METHANE, METHANOL AND/OR DIMETHYL ETHER USING MICROCHANNEL PROCESS TECHNOLOGY - This invention relates to a process for converting a carbonaceous material to a desired product comprising methane, methanol and/or dimethyl ether, the process comprising: gasifying the carbonaceous material at a temperature in excess of about 700° C. to form synthesis gas; and flowing the synthesis gas through two or more reaction zones in a microchannel reactor to convert the synthesis gas to the desired product. | 10-15-2009 |
20090293359 | PROCESS FOR UPGRADING A CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL USING MICROCHANNEL PROCESS TECHNOLOGY - This invention relates to a process for converting a carbonaceous material to a desired product comprising one or more hydrocarbons or one or more alcohols, the process comprising: (A) gasifying the carbonaceous material at a temperature in excess of about 700° C. to form synthesis gas; and (B) flowing the synthesis gas in a microchannel reactor in contact with a catalyst to convert the synthesis gas to the desired product. | 12-03-2009 |
20100071410 | DISTILLATION PROCESS USING MICROCHANNEL TECHNOLOGY - The disclosed invention relates to a distillation process for separating two or more components having different volatilities from a liquid mixture containing the components. The process employs microchannel technology for effecting the distillation and is particularly suitable for conducting difficult separations, such as the separation of ethane from ethylene, wherein the individual components are characterized by having volatilities that are very close to one another. | 03-25-2010 |
20100174124 | PROCESS AND APPARATUS EMPLOYING MICROCHANNEL PROCESS TECHNOLOGY - This invention relates to a process for conducting a hydrocracking or a hydrotreating process in a microchannel reactor. This invention also relates to a process and apparatus for flowing a vapor and liquid into a plurality of microchannels in a microchannel processing unit. | 07-08-2010 |
20110300039 | Integrated Combustion Reactors And Methods Of Conducting Simultaneous Endothermic and Exothermic Reactions - Integrated Combustion Reactors (ICRs) and methods of making ICRs are described in which combustion chambers (or channels) are in direct thermal contact to reaction chambers for an endothermic reaction. Particular reactor designs are also described. Processes of conducting reactions in integrated combustion reactors are described and results presented. Some of these processes are characterized by unexpected and superior results, and/or results that can not be achieved with any prior art devices. | 12-08-2011 |
20120145965 | VARIOUS METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR AN ULTRA-HIGH HEAT FLUX CHEMICAL REACTOR - Various processes and apparatus are discussed for an ultra-high heat flux chemical reactor. A thermal receiver and the reactor tubes are aligned to 1) absorb and re-emit radiant energy, 2) highly reflect radiant energy, and 3) any combination of these, to maintain an operational temperature of the enclosed ultra-high heat flux chemical reactor. Particles of biomass are gasified in the presence of a steam carrier gas and methane in a simultaneous steam reformation and steam biomass gasification reaction to produce reaction products that include hydrogen and carbon monoxide gas using the ultra-high heat flux thermal energy radiated from the inner wall and then into the multiple reactor tubes. The multiple reactor tubes and cavity walls of the receiver transfer energy primarily by radiation absorption and re-radiation, rather than by convection or conduction, to the reactants in the chemical reaction to drive the endothermic chemical reaction flowing in the reactor tubes. | 06-14-2012 |
20140246625 | Integrated Combustion Reactor And Methods Of Conducting Simultaneous Endothermic and Exothermic Reactions - Integrated Combustion Reactors (ICRs) and methods of making ICRs are described in which combustion chambers (or channels) are in direct thermal contact to reaction chambers for an endothermic reaction. Particular reactor designs are also described. Processes of conducting reactions in integrated combustion reactors are described and results presented. Some of these processes are characterized by unexpected and superior results, and/or results that can not be achieved with any prior art devices. | 09-04-2014 |
20140291204 | PROCESS AND APPARATUS EMPLOYING MICROCHANNEL PROCESS TECHNOLGOY - This invention relates to a process for conducting a hydrocracking or a hydrotreating process in a microchannel reactor. This invention also relates to a process and apparatus for flowing a vapor and liquid into a plurality of microchannels in a microchannel processing unit. | 10-02-2014 |