Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080299019 | System and process for upgrading heavy hydrocarbons - A system and process for upgrading hydrocarbons such as heavy oils includes high temperature plasma reactor apparatus, in one or more vessels, into which the oils are introduced along with water, such as steam, to produce lighter hydrocarbon fractions, along with carbon monoxide and hydrogen, that flows to an additional stage where more hydrocarbons and water are introduced for further fractionating reactions facilitated by reaction of carbon monoxide and water to produce carbon dioxide and nascent, or prompt, free radicals of hydrogen. Heavy hydrocarbons upgraded can include heavy oils in the form of tar sands, oil shale, and oil residuals. The vessel or vessels can each contain a carbonaceous bed facilitating the described reactions and example embodiments include one vessel with the reactions performed in a single bed and, also, two vessels with the reactions performed in a carbonaceous bed portion in each vessel. | 12-04-2008 |
20100199560 | Plasma gasification reactor - A plasma gasification reactor vessel having a top section with a conical wall extending up from a bottom section, containing a carbonaceous bed into which plasma is injected by plasma torches, to a roof of the vessel is arranged in ways that can contribute to characteristics of gas flow and solids residence time that are favorable for thoroughness of reactions and yield of useful reactions products. In some cases, such a conical wall is combined in arrangements with other features such as one or more feed ports arranged to give more uniform distribution including examples with a feed port that has a distributive feed mechanism. The roof of the vessel, in some examples, has vertical outlet ports that include intrusions into the interior volume of the reactor proximate the conical wall of the top section. The configurations of outlet ports with intrusions and the configurations of feed ports for more uniform distribution of feed material are also applicable to reactor vessels with other geometries. | 08-12-2010 |
20100215554 | System and process for upgrading heavy hydrocarbons - A system and process for upgrading hydrocarbons such as heavy oils includes a high temperature plasma reactor apparatus, in one or more vessels, into which the oils are introduced along with water, such as steam, to produce lighter hydrocarbon fractions, along with carbon monoxide and hydrogen, that flows to an additional stage where more hydrocarbons and water are introduced for further fractionating reactions facilitated by reaction of carbon monoxide and water to produce carbon dioxide and nascent, or prompt, free radicals of hydrogen. Heavy hydrocarbons upgraded can include heavy oils in the form of tar sands, oil shale, and oil residuals. The vessel or vessels can each contain a carbonaceous bed facilitating the described reactions and example embodiments include one vessel with the reactions performed in a single bed and, also, two vessels with the reactions performed in a carbonaceous bed portion in each vessel. | 08-26-2010 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110186455 | Enclosure of anodized multi-layer metallic shell with molded plastic scaffolding and method of manufacture - A device enclosure includes a clad metal shell having a plurality of mounting structures attached thereto. Methods for manufacturing the device enclosure are also disclosed. In a particular method, the mounting structures are formed on a surface of the clad metal shell by nano molding technology. Alternatively, the mounting structures are formed by molding before being attached to the clad metal shell by an adhesive. | 08-04-2011 |
20110239725 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PREVENTING WARPAGE OF METAL COMPONENTS DURING MANUFACTURING PROCESSES - A method for manufacturing a component including a bi-metallic sheet includes performing a manufacturing process that heats the bi-metallic sheet and physically constraining the bi-metallic sheet from deformation during the cooling of the bi-metallic sheet. Optionally, the method additionally includes physically constraining the bi-metallic sheet from deformation during the manufacturing process that heats the bi-metallic sheet. A constraining apparatus is also disclosed and includes a first constraining component having a first thermally conductive contact surface adapted to abut a first surface of a metal sheet, a second constraining component having a second contact surface adapted to abut a second surface of the metal sheet, and an engaging device operative to fix the first constraining component and the second constraining component in position relative to one another. The metal sheet is constrained between the first contact surface and the second contact surface during heating and/or cooling. | 10-06-2011 |
20130026678 | TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED MOLDING OF COMPOSITE COMPONENTS - Systems and processes that limit distortion of inserts (e.g., previously formed parts) in insert molding and overmolding processes. Initially, a mold may be closed (e.g., clamped) about an insert with the mold at a first temperature. After closing the mold about the insert, the mold is heated up to a second temperature (e.g., a temperature suitable for injection of the molding material) and filled with the molding material to contact (e.g., encapsulate) the insert. After the mold has been cooled, the mold may be opened and the finished part (including the insert and the solidified molding material) removed (e.g., ejected). The process may be repeated for additional finished parts. Closing the mold about the insert before heating the mold to the injection temperature advantageously limits distortion of the insert that would otherwise occur by placing the insert into the mold with the mold already at the injection temperature. | 01-31-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100161479 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PREPAID ELECTRIC METERING FOR VEHICLES - A method for delivering energy to an electric vehicle is provided, wherein the electric vehicle is associated with a customer account. The method includes identifying the electric vehicle at an energy delivery point, and determining a current balance of the customer account, wherein the current balance includes at least a portion of a prepayment amount based on a predetermined amount of energy to be delivered to the electric vehicle at the energy delivery point. The method also includes delivering energy to the electric vehicle, metering an actual amount of energy delivered to the electric vehicle, and determining a transaction amount based on the actual amount of energy delivered to the electric vehicle at the energy delivery point. | 06-24-2010 |
20110138813 | IMPURITY DETECTION IN COMBUSTOR SYSTEMS - The present invention discloses a combustor system and method of measuring impurities in the combustion system. The combustion system includes an up-stream fuel injection point; a down-stream turbine combustor; a flame zone in the turbine combustor comprising a plurality of axial sub-zones; an optical port assembly configured to obtain a non-axial, direct, optical view of at least one of the plurality of axial sub-zones, and an impurity detection system in optical communication with the optical port assembly. | 06-16-2011 |
20120078574 | Monitoring System and Display For Use In A Monitoring System - A monitoring system for use in monitoring a machine includes at least one sensor for use in measuring at least one operating condition of the machine and at least one monitoring module coupled to the at least one sensor. The at least one monitoring module includes at least one display formed integrally with the monitoring module and configured to display real-time data representative of a currently measured operating condition of the machine and to display historical data representative of a previously measured operating condition of the machine such that a user is enabled to visually compare the historical data with the real-time data. | 03-29-2012 |
20120131324 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF COMMUNICATION USING A SMART METER - Described herein are embodiments of methods and systems of communicating with smart appliances through a smart grid and smart meter infrastructure. In one aspect, a method is described comprising a smart meter connected to a first network receiving via the first network registration information for an appliance operably connected to the first network, wherein the registration information includes a unique identifier for the appliance; transmitting at least a portion of the registration information and a smart meter identifier that uniquely identifies the smart meter to a second computing device connected to a second network; receiving, by the second computing device, update information for the appliance; transmitting, by the second computing device, the update information to the smart meter via the second network using the unique identifier for the device and the smart meter identifier; transmitting, by the smart meter, the update information to the appliance; and updating the appliance with the update information. | 05-24-2012 |
20120249281 | INDUCTOR AND EDDY CURRENT SENSOR INCLUDING AN INDUCTOR - An inductor and an eddy current sensor including an inductor are disclosed. The inductor includes a patterned metal layer arranged on an insulating substrate. The inductor is capable of sensing eddy current within a high temperature region. | 10-04-2012 |
20130116974 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR TROUBLESHOOTING INSTALLATIONS OF DEVICES - Methods and systems for use in troubleshooting installations of electronic devices are provided. In one example system for use in troubleshooting a plurality of intelligent electronic devices (IEDs), the system includes a computing device communicatively interfaced with a plurality of IEDs. The computing device includes a first communication interface to receive data from at least one IED and a processor coupled to the first communication interface. The processor is programmed to receive data from the at least one IED via the first communication interface and determine, based at least in part on the received data from the at least one IED, whether or not the plurality of IEDs is functioning properly. | 05-09-2013 |
20130311138 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR TROUBLESHOOTING INSTALLATIONS OF DEVICES - Methods and systems for use in troubleshooting installations of electronic devices are provided. In one example system for use in troubleshooting a plurality of intelligent electronic devices (IEDs), the system includes a computing device communicatively interfaced with a plurality of IEDs. The computing device includes a first communication interface to receive data from at least one IED and a processor coupled to the first communication interface. The processor is programmed to receive data from the at least one IED via the first communication interface and determine, based at least in part on the received data from the at least one IED, whether or not the plurality of IEDs is functioning properly. | 11-21-2013 |