m Method for producing of hollow die cast products By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for the production of a hollow body from die casting aluminum in a die casting machine with a die casting die having mould parts with a stationary mould part and with at least two movable mould parts. The movable mould parts are guided in at least one further movable mould part of the die, so that, in the closed position of the die, the movable mould parts are blocked at least by way of an interlock which is attached to the stationary mould part. Full Article
m Core sand filling device and core sand filling method in core making machine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT The core sand filling device includes the core box, a blow head which is placed below the core box so as to move up and down in a relative manner to the core box and divided into a sand blowing chamber and a sand storage chamber that are communicatively connected to each other, a compressed air supply unit which is communicatively connected to the sand storage chamber and supplies compressed air into the sand storage chamber, an aeration air supply unit which is communicatively connected to the sand blowing chamber and supplies into the sand blowing chamber aeration air for suspending and fluidizing core sand inside the sand blowing chamber, and an exhaust valve which is communicatively connected to the sand blowing chamber and exhausts compressed air remaining in the sand blowing chamber. Full Article
m Ceramic core with composite insert for casting airfoils By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A multi-wall ceramic core for casting an airfoil with one or more internal cooling passages is made by preforming at least one fugitive core insert to have a joint-forming surface with a male and/or female joint feature and then forming at least one fugitive core insert in-situ adjacent and integrally connected and fused to the at least one preformed core insert at the joint-forming surface to form an interlocked, fused joint to form a composite core insert that includes features to form internal passage surfaces in the core when the composite core insert is removed. Another aspect involves preforming first and second fugitive core inserts to have respective joint-forming surfaces with respective snap-fittable joint features and assembling the first and second fugitive core inserts to form a composite core insert by snap fitting the snap-fittable joint features together to form an interlocked joint. The composite core insert is placed in a core molding die cavity, and a fluid ceramic material is introduced into the die cavity to form the ceramic core body incorporating the fugitive composite core insert therein. Full Article
m 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
m Method for producing a nickel strip By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A nickel strip is made from a starting material of solid cathode sheets having a minimum nickel content of 99.94% by weight and a maximum trace element content, in ppm by weight, of Full Article
m Method and apparatus for press casting By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus for press casting includes a casting mold formed of a fixed mold and a first moving mold operable to move relative to the fixed mold. The apparatus further includes a second moving mold operable to move relative to the first moving mold. A mold cavity, which forms a cast product, is configured by the fixed mold and the second moving mold. When the first moving mold is moved to a first predetermined position, a molten metal passage and a gas exhaust port, which communicate with the mold cavity, are formed at positions outside the mold cavity. A communication between the mold cavity and the molten metal passage, and the gas exhaust port is cut off by the second moving mold when the second moving mold is moved to a second predetermined position while the first moving mold is maintained at the first predetermined position thereof. Full Article
m Method for casting thin metal objects By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Provided herein are various embodiments of systems for casting thin metal plates and sheets. Typical embodiments include layers of mold cavities that are oriented vertically for casting the metal plates. In some embodiments, the mold cavities include a beveled edge such that the plates that are cast have a beveled edge. In some embodiments, the mold cavities are filled with a molten metal through an open horizontal edge of the cavity. In some embodiments, the mold cavities are filled through one or more vertical feed orifices. Further disclosed are methods for forming a thin cast metal plate or sheet where the thickness of the cast part is in a range from 0.005 inches to 0.2 inches, and the surface area of the cast part is in a range from 16 square inches to 144 square inches. Full Article
m Method for continuous casting of a metal with improved mechanical strength and product obtained by said method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A new method for continuous casting of molten metal is provided that allows one to obtain an intermediate product such as slab, billet wire, etc. before subsequent thermomechanical treatment (e.g. lamination or annealing), such that its chemical composition is modified by the addition of elements in order to give it greater mechanical strength. Full Article
m Temperature regulated melt crucible for cold chamber die casting By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed is a vessel for melting and casting meltable materials. The vessel may be a surface temperature regulated vessel for providing a substantially non-wetting interface with the molten materials. In one embodiment, the vessel may include one or more temperature regulating channels configured to flow a fluid therein for regulating a surface temperature of the vessel such that molten materials are substantially non-wetting at the interface with the vessel. Disclosed also includes systems and methods for melting and casting meltable materials using the vessel. Full Article
m Method and apparatus for interlocking load carrying elements By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 21 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for interlocking structural steel components with a metal-filled interlock is disclosed herein. The method comprises placing a mold about aligned contoured portions of structural steel components and attaching a crucible and a spout to the mold. The crucible is charged with exothermic reactive metals which are ignited, forming a molten metal filler. The molten metal filler melts a metal plug in the crucible or spout and the molten metal filler flows into the mold and about the aligned contoured portions of the structural steel components. Cooling of the molten metal filler forms a metal-filled interlock. Molds for performing the disclosed method are also disclosed herein. Full Article
m 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
m 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
m Aluminum-diamond composite and manufacturing method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed is an aluminum-diamond composite having both high thermal conductivity and thermal expansion coefficient close to those of semiconductor elements, which is improved in platability in the surface and surface roughness so that the composite becomes suitable for use as a heat sink of a semiconductor element of the like. Specifically disclosed is a plate-like aluminum-diamond composite containing diamond particles and a metal mainly composed of aluminum. The aluminum-diamond composite is composed of a composite part and surface layers formed on both sides of the composite part, and the surface layers are composed of a material containing a metal mainly composed of aluminum. The diamond particle content is 40-70% by volume of the entire aluminum-diamond composite. Full Article
m Method of casting semi-liquid or semi-solid iron-based alloy and die for casting By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method of casting a semi-liquid or semi-solid iron-based alloy, the method including: applying, to a part or to the whole of an uppermost surface of an inner surface of a die, a lubricating die-release agent in which particles including at least one selected from molybdenum disulfide, graphite, tungsten disulfide, boron nitride, chrome oxide and boric oxide are dispersed in a solvent; and thereafter casting by using the die. Full Article
m Casting core, method for producing same, and method for casting using said core By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A casting core resulting from alkaline earth metal oxide particles having an average particle size of 0.8-4 mm being dispersed in a water-soluble alkali metal salt matrix. The casting core can be efficiently produced using a method of dispersing alkaline earth metal hydroxide particles having favorable disintegration properties and a particle size in the range of 1-5 mm in a molten water-soluble alkali metal salt, converting to alkaline earth metal oxide particles by means of dehydration, and casting in a mold, cooling, and hardening. Full Article
m 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
m Tower pump casting apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A casting apparatus having a main chamber connected to at least one casting tower. The main chamber may contain molten metal and the temperature within the main chamber may be maintained by a furnace. A pump may pump the molten metal up the tower and into an upper pool chamber. A feeder nozzle may feed the molten metal from the upper pool chamber and onto a chilling wheel, which may turn the molten metal into metal flakes. Full Article
m Method and installation for manufacturing thin metal strip By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 05 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for manufacturing a thin metal strip by pouring and rapidly solidifying molten metal onto a cooling roll rotating at a high speed to form a thin metal strip having a width of 50˜350 mm, blowing compression gas from substantially a tangential direction of the cooling roll toward the thin metal strip to separate the thin metal strip from the cooling roll, adsorbing the separated thin metal strip with a permeable belt of a suction type belt conveyor, and transporting to a take-up reel to wind in form of a coil, the thin metal strip is adsorbed by the belt under conditions that a nearest approaching distance L between the cooling roll and the suction type belt conveyor is 2˜50 mm and a suction width S of a suction box arranged in the suction type belt conveyor is 1.2˜2.5 times of a width W of the thin metal strip. Full Article
m Insert casting or tack welding of machinable metal in bulk amorphous alloy part and post machining the machinable metal insert By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Provided in one embodiment is a method of forming a connection mechanism in or on a bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy by casting in or on, or forming with the bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy, a machinable metal. The connection mechanism can be formed by machining the machinable metal. Full Article
m Metal alloy injection molding overflows By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Metal alloy injection molding techniques are described. In one or more implementations, these techniques may also include adjustment of injection pressure, configuration of runners, and/or use of vacuum pressure, and so on to encourage flow of the metal alloy through a mold. Techniques are also described that utilize protrusions to counteract thermal expansion and subsequent contraction of the metal alloy upon cooling. Further, techniques are described in which a radius of edges of a feature is configured to encourage flow and reduce voids. A variety of other techniques are also described herein. Full Article
m Method for producing a metal part for an aircraft turbo-engine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A method for producing a metal part, the part including, in particular, a first set of elements having a small thickness, and a second set of elements having a large thickness, the method including: forming a peripheral portion of the elements of the second set of elements by selectively melting a powder by scanning the surface of the powder layer with a laser beam or with an electron beam; using the peripheral portion of the elements of the second set of elements as a mould by carrying out an operation of filling an inner area defined by the peripheral portion with liquid metal; cooling the metal part to solidify the inner area defined by the peripheral portion and filled with metal. Full Article
m Feeder element By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An elongate collapsible feeder element for use in metal casting and a feeder system with attached feeder element and feeder sleeve. The feeder element has an A end and an opposite B end measured along the height, and a C end and an opposite D end measured along the length. The A end is for mounting on a mold pattern or swing plate and the opposite B end is for receiving a feeder sleeve. A bore is between the A and B ends defined by a sidewall having a stepped collapsible portion. The feeder element is compressible in use to reduce the distance between the A and B ends. The bore is offset from the centre of the feeder element along the length towards the C end and a second sidewall region is non-planar, contiguous with a third sidewall region and located between the bore axis and the D end. Full Article
m Copper alloy and copper alloy manufacturing method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A copper alloy having an electrical resistivity lower than those of current copper alloys and a tensile strength higher than those of current copper alloys and a method of manufacturing such a copper alloy are provided. The copper alloy is produced by adding a predetermined amount of carbon to a molten copper in a high-temperature environment of a temperature in the range of 1200° C. to 1250° C. such that the copper alloy has a carbon content in the range of 0.01% to 0.6% by weight. Full Article
m Insert molding of bulk amorphous alloy into open cell foam By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Provided in one embodiment is a method of making use of foams as a processing aid or to improve the properties of bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy materials. Other embodiments include the bulk-solidifying amorphous alloy/foam composite materials made in accordance with the methods. Full Article
m Aluminium-copper alloy for casting By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT An aluminium-copper alloy comprising substantially insoluble particles which occupy the interdendritic regions of the alloy, provided with free titanium in quantity sufficient to result in a refinement of the grain structure in the cast alloy. Full Article
m Multiple casting apparatus and method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Apparatuses and methods of forming battery parts are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method of forming a battery part includes receiving a flowable material into a cavity, and reducing a volume of the cavity while a pin extending through at least a portion of the cavity remains at least generally stationary therein. The method further includes sealing the cavity by slidably engaging at least a portion of the pin with a recess in the piston proximate the end face of the piston. Full Article
m 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
m 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
m System and method of producing multi-layered alloy products By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT System and method of producing multi-layered aluminum alloy products are disclosed. A multi-layered aluminum alloy product may be formed by first heating a first aluminum alloy to a first temperature where the first temperature is at least about 5° C. lower than the eutectic temperature of the first aluminum alloy, second heating a second aluminum alloy to a second temperature where the second temperature is at least about 5° C. higher than the liquidus temperature of the second aluminum alloy, and coupling the second aluminum alloy to the first aluminum alloy to produce a multi-layered aluminum alloy product. Full Article
m Production of die cast rotors with copper bars for electric motors By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A rotor core for an electric motor includes a stack of laminations having peripherally spaced openings receiving copper bars with opposite end portions projecting from the stack. The core is mounted on an arbor and is inserted into a mold on a vertical die cast press having a shot chamber. The mold has upper and lower mold members defining annular cavities receiving end portions of the bars. Molten copper or aluminum is poured into the shot chamber and forced upwardly by a shot piston through passages in the lower mold member and into the cavity around the lower end portions of the bars. The pressurized molten metal solidifies and shrinks around the bar end portions to form an endring for the rotor. The core, endring and arbor are inverted and confined in the mold, and the casting steps are repeated to form the opposite endring. Full Article
m Aluminum alloy compositions and methods for die-casting thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT Aluminum alloys are provided that have improved fluidity and elongation, as well as freedom of die soldering. The aluminum alloys are particularly suitable for die-casting of structural components. The aluminum alloy includes silicon at from about 8 weight % to about 11 weight %, manganese at from about 0.8 weight % to about 1.9 weight %, iron at from about 0.1 weight % to about 0.5 weight %, magnesium at from about 0.2 weight % to about 0.7 weight %, boron at from about 0.002 weight % to about 0.15 weight %, strontium at from about 0.006 weight % to about 0.017 weight %, less than about 0.25 weight % copper, less than about 0.35 weight % zinc, less than about 0.25 weight % titanium, and a balance of aluminum. Methods related to the aluminum alloys are also provided. Full Article
m Die-casting method, die-casting device, and die-cast article By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A die casting method and apparatus are provided, thereby making it possible to produce a thin diecast product that has hitherto been considered impossible to realize, and a diecast product is also provided. A semi-solidified metallic material is formed having particles in solid phase of a particle size less than 30 μm, and is thereupon injected into a die. A die casting machine has a sleeve into which a melt of metallic material is poured, and the semi-solidifying material there when it has a certain proportion of solid phase reached is injected into the die with a plunger to which pressure is applied. The melt of metallic material is poured into the sleeve so that the material occupies inside the sleeve at a proportion in vertical cross-sectional area of 30% or less. The particle size in this semi-solid material is held unvaried in a product as diecast. Full Article
m 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
m 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
m Titanium based ceramic reinforced alloy for use in medical implants By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A titanium based, ceramic reinforced alloy ingot for use in producing medical implants. An ingot is formed from an alloy having comprising from about 5 to about 35 wt. % niobium, from about 0.5 to about 3.5 wt. % silicon, and from about 61.5 to about 94.5 wt. % of titanium. The alloy has a hexagonal crystal lattice α phase of from about 20 vol % to about 70 vol %, and a cubic body centered β crystal lattice phase of from about 30 vol. % to about 80 vol. %. The ingot has an ultimate tensile strength of about 940 MPa or more, and a Young's modulus of about 150 GPa or less. A molten substantially uniform admixture of a niobium, silicon, and titanium alloy is formed, cast into a shape, and cooled into an ingot. The ingot may then be formed into a medical implant and optionally annealed. Full Article
m Cold chamber die casting of amorphous alloys using cold crucible induction melting techniques By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 11 Aug 2015 08:00:00 EDT Various embodiments provide systems and methods for casting amorphous alloys. Exemplary casting system may include an insertable and rotatable vessel configured in a non-movable induction heating structure for melting amorphous alloys to form molten materials in the vessel. While the molten materials remain heated, the vessel may be rotated to pour the molten materials into a casting device for casting them into articles. Full Article
m Fluid purification level control apparatuses and methods By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Jan 2014 08:00:00 EST Apparatuses and methods for level control in a fluid purification apparatus. The apparatuses and methods include a fluid purification apparatus and a level sensor that regulates operation of the fluid purification apparatus. The level sensor may further operate a bypass valve or a heater. Full Article
m 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
m 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
m Apparatus for removing a contaminant from a solvent separation process By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 15 Apr 2014 08:00:00 EDT The invention is a process and apparatus for removing a contaminant from an aromatic selective solvent. A feed stream comprising an aromatic hydrocarbon and a non-aromatic hydrocarbon is contacted with the aromatic selective solvent in an extractive distillation zone to produce a raffinate stream comprising the non-aromatic hydrocarbon, and a rich solvent stream comprising the aromatic hydrocarbon and the solvent. The rich solvent stream is separated in a second distillation zone to produce an extract stream comprising the aromatic hydrocarbon, and a lean solvent stream comprising the contaminant and the aromatic selective solvent. At least a portion of the lean solvent stream is washed with a non-aromatic hydrocarbon to produce a clean solvent stream, at least a portion of which is passed to at least one of the extractive distillation zone and the second distillation zone. Full Article
m System and method for extracting bitumen from tar sand By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 15 Apr 2014 08:00:00 EDT An improved system for removing bitumen from tar sands comprises a pre-treatment system utilizing a vibratory load hopper for classifying and sizing said tar sand particles communicating with a dryer for heating and drying said tar sand particles to a predetermined temperature thereby controlling the moisture content of said tar sands. An extraction system is also included for accepting said tar sands from the dryer comprising a plurality of extraction vessels arranged in series for transporting said tar sands from a first extraction vessel to a final extraction vessel. Furthermore, a solvent system for supplying a predetermined volume of solvent flow through said extraction vessels is employed, whereby solvent is supplied to the last extraction vessel and a solvent and bitumen mixture is withdrawn from the first extraction vessel. Full Article
m Multi-stage sulfur removal system and process for a fuel system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 22 Apr 2014 08:00:00 EDT A system for producing an auxiliary fuel stream containing a low concentration of sulfur compounds from a primary fuel stream includes a first separation stage to separate a portion of a primary fuel stream into a first vapor permeate stream and a first retentate stream, a first separation stage partial condenser connected to the first vapor permeate stream condensing a portion of the first vapor permeate stream into a first liquid stage stream and a first vapor stage stream, and a second separation stage partial condenser condensing a portion of the first vapor stage stream into a second liquid stage. The stream may then be processed through a sorbent bed to effectively remove the sulfur compounds. Full Article
m Center feed system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 22 Apr 2014 08:00:00 EDT The present invention features a center feed system in combination with a coking vessel of a delayed coking system, or any other similar system. The center feed system features an inlet sleeve which slidably engages a retractable nozzle, with inlet and outlet, in fluid connection with a feed source of residual byproduct, allowing residual byproduct to flow from the feed source into the interior of the vessel, thus effectuating or inducing even thermal distribution throughout the vessel. The retractable nozzle is structured to extend through an opening in the coking vessel while introducing the residual byproduct into the coking vessel and retract out of the coking vessel and cover the opening for at least a portion of a coking cycle. Full Article
m 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
m 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
m Refinery desalter improvement By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Jun 2014 08:00:00 EDT The improved methods relate to desalting hydrocarbon feeds using a separator with a stacked disk centrifuge to separate an emulsified oil and water rag layer. This method is effective for desalting heavy, high ionic, and non-traditional crude oils. Full Article
m 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
m 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
m 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
m 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