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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7339791 | CVD diamond enhanced microprocessor cooling system Cooling systems for microprocessors are addressed. Some systems may include a chemical vapor deposited (CVD) diamond heatspreader mounted to a base of a heat sink and to a microprocessor chip, while others may include a copper insert mounted within a depression of a... | 03/04/2008 |
| 7214903 | Melting and vaporizing apparatus and method An apparatus and method for heating materials or substances in an oven at an oven temperature below their melting and/or vaporization points to either melt and/or vaporize the substance. Substances are inserted into a substantially spherical envelope. The envelope i... | 05/08/2007 |
| 7161110 | Melting and vaporizing apparatus and method An apparatus and method for heating materials or substances in an oven at an oven temperature below their melting and/or vaporization points to either melt and/or vaporize the substance. Substances are inserted into a substantially spherical envelope. The envelope i... | 01/09/2007 |
| 7156027 | Method for producing soil, soil-processing unit, method for processing and unit for processing An object to be treated such as soil, burned fly ashes, or the like containing organic halides is introduced to a hermetically sealable thermal decomposition furnace 310 and heated under reduced pressure. Emitted gases of the object to be treated are treated ... | 01/02/2007 |
| 7138599 | Plasma-based de-icing An electrical conductor and a gas-filled layer are located at or near the surface of an object being deiced. The conductor carries an AC voltage that generates an alternating electric field in the gas-filled layer. A conductive layer increases the electric field str... | 11/21/2006 |
| 6919525 | Thermal management components An article comprises a heat source, a heat sink, and a high-efficiency diamond material interposed between and thermally coupled to the heat source and the heat sink. The heat source and the high-efficiency diamond material have a contact area greater than 1 square ... | 07/19/2005 |
| 6911618 | Method of producing minute metal balls An object of the present invention is to provide a producing method by which minute metal balls having a high sphericity or roundness and a uniform diameter. The present invention provides a method of producing minute metal balls, comprising the steps of cutt... | 06/28/2005 |
| 6817388 | Multiple plasma generator hazardous waste processing system A waste processing system is provided herein which entails the use of at least one fixed-position plasma arc generator for primary processing and at least one moveable plasma arc generator for secondary processing assistance and/or final conditioning of the slag pri... | 11/16/2004 |
| 6686556 | Solid-waste energy plant using catalytic ionic-impact decomposition and combustion product regeneration A solid-waste conversion plant produces useful products and electrical energy in a closed system with zero emission of pollutants into the atmosphere. The plant is characterized by catalytic ionic-impact chambers having a pair of electrodes that establish... | 02/03/2004 |
| 6677551 | Process for operating a plasma arc torch A process for operating a plasma torch having an improved start up and shut down sequence to substantially increase electrode element life. The first shut down mode is controlled such that plasma gas flow through the swirl ring and nozzle prevents the for... | 01/13/2004 |
| 6355904 | Method and system for high-temperature waste treatment A waste treatment system is provided, including a waste melter system and an air pollution control system. Hazardous and/or radioactive waste in drums is conducted through a waste feed system into a plasma chamber where the waste is exposed to heat from a... | 03/12/2002 |
| 6093905 | Process for operating a plasma arc torch A process for operating a plasma torch on shut down to substantially increase electrode element life involves shutting down the plasma torch according to a first shut down mode for a first predetermined number of pierces attributed to the electrode elemen... | 07/25/2000 |
| 5958264 | Plasma gasification and vitrification of ashes This invention discloses a method and an apparatus for gasification and vitrification of ashes, such as produced in a hog-fuel fired boiler, by means of a plasma arc. The ashes are introduced into a shaft furnace where two or three tiltable electrodes are... | 09/28/1999 |
| 5943970 | Method and equipment for thermal destruction of wastes The method and equipment are proposed for wastes thermal destruction on the surface of a bath of melted metal and slag with a heating in plasma jets and the off-gas bubbling through a bath of melted slag, including a plasma hose generated in waste introdu... | 08/31/1999 |
| 5908564 | Tunable, self-powered arc plasma-melter electro conversion system for waste treatment and resource recovery The present invention provides a relatively compact self-powered, tunable waste conversion system and apparatus which has the advantage of highly robust operation which provides complete or substantially complete conversion of a wide range of waste stream... | 06/01/1999 |
| 5877394 | Method for treating waste containing stainless steel A centrifugal plasma arc furnace is used to vitrify contaminated soils and other waste materials. An assessment of the characteristics of the waste is performed prior to introducing the waste into the furnace. Based on the assessment, a predetermined amou... | 03/02/1999 |
| 5847355 | Plasma-assisted microwave processing of materials A microwave plasma assisted method and system for heating and joining materials. The invention uses a microwave induced plasma to controllably preheat workpiece materials that are poorly microwave absorbing. The plasma preheats the workpiece to a temperat... | 12/08/1998 |
| 5809911 | Multi-zone waste processing reactor system The novel waste treatment system of the invention employs multiple reactor zones for processing heterogeneous waste. In one embodiment, the reactor system (10) includes the following components: first (12) and second (14) solid waste feed subsystems; and ... | 09/22/1998 |
| 5762009 | Plasma energy recycle and conversion (PERC) reactor and process Plasma energy recycle and conversion (PERC) reactor and process for disposal of energetics such as solid rocket propellants, liquid rocket fuel, chemical agents such as nerve gas, industrial waste such as paint sludge, medical waste or any aqueous/organic... | 06/09/1998 |
| 5756957 | Tunable molten oxide pool assisted plasma-melter vitrification systems The present invention provides tunable waste conversion systems and apparatus which have the advantage of highly robust operation and which provide complete or substantially complete conversion of a wide range of waste streams into useful gas and a stable... | 05/26/1998 |
| 5750822 | Processing of solid mixed waste containing radioactive and hazardous materials Apparatus for the continuous heating and melting of a solid mixed waste bearing radioactive and hazardous materials to form separate metallic, slag and gaseous phases for producing compact forms of the waste material to facilitate disposal includes a copp... | 05/12/1998 |
| 5731564 | Method of operating a centrifugal plasma arc furnace A centrifugal plasma arc furnace is used to vitrify contaminated soils and other waste materials. An assessment of the characteristics of the waste is performed prior to introducing the waste into the furnace. Based on the assessment, a predetermined amou... | 03/24/1998 |
| 5666891 | ARC plasma-melter electro conversion system for waste treatment and resource recovery The present invention provides a relatively compact and highly robust waste-to-energy conversion system and apparatus which has the advantage of complete or substantially complete conversion of a wide range of waste streams into useful gas and a stable, n... | 09/16/1997 |
| 5611947 | Induction steam plasma torch for generating a steam plasma for treating a feed slurry Steam plasma reactor incorporating an induction steam plasma torch where superheated steam is generated and passed through an induction coil or coils to generate high temperature steam plasma for conversion and disposal of waste products such as low level... | 03/18/1997 |
| 5595669 | Method of forming coupling diopters at the ends of optical fibers To enable surface tension forces to confer upon an optical fiber end (P1), a shape procuring good optical coupling the end is partially melted in an electric arc (ZC). To improve the reproducibility of this shape movement into the arc is achieved by a uni... | 01/21/1997 |
| 5541386 | Plasma arc decomposition of hazardous wastes into vitrified solids and non-hazardous gasses A disposal of waste material including water, volatile components and vitrifiable components, the waste material is heated in a dehydrator to remove the water, heated in a high-temperature dryer to vaporize hydrocarbon liquids, and then fed to the focus p... | 07/30/1996 |
| 5532449 | Using plasma ARC and thermite to demolish concrete A plasma arc can be employed to demolish a concrete structure at a high efficiency, while preventing a secondary problem due to noise, flying dust and chips, and the like. The concrete structure can be demolished by melting a surface of the concrete struc... | 07/02/1996 |
| 5528012 | Apparatus and method for starting a plasma arc treatment system An ignitable material is positioned in contact with a slag contained within a plasma arc treatment system having an electrode and an electrical ground. The slag is initially at a temperature below a conducting temperature at which the slag will conduct el... | 06/18/1996 |
| 5399833 | Method for vitrification of fine particulate matter and products produced thereby The present invention provides a method for the melting and subsequent solidification of fine particulate material by use of a plasma torch. The fine particulate material is introduced into a furnace having a plasma torch to a depth sufficient to cover th... | 03/21/1995 |
| 5399829 | Material treatment method and apparatus A method of treating waste material which involves creating a substantially continuous curtain of plasma and directing the material to be treated through that curtain. An electric arc is generated between two electrodes which are separated by an annular s... | 03/21/1995 |
| 5354963 | Process and a device for continuous surface treatment of rod-shaped, longitudinally extended materials with metal surfaces using a magnetically displaced plasma arc The invention concerns a process and a device for surface heat treatment of rod-shaped, longitudinally extended materials with metal surfaces by means of an arc, which rotates and is magnetically driven around the axis of the billet, wherein the arc moves... | 10/11/1994 |
| 5281790 | Process of immobilizing ashes by vitrification thereof in a plasma reactor Disclosed is a process for immobilizing ashes by vitrification thereof in a plasma arc reactor, which is very efficient to treat ashes and any other pulverulent residues containing toxic leachable components that may be a source of pollution. The process ... | 01/25/1994 |
| 5266775 | Cutter for removing dross produced by a plasma arc torch Molten metal created during cutting of a workpiece by a plasma-arc torch is discharged downwardly into a tubular collector duct. A power-rotated cutter is located adjacent the upper end of the duct and shaves dross from the underside of the workpiece as t... | 11/30/1993 |
| 5256855 | Silica production Method for the production of fused silica in which a particulate silica feedstock material is passed from a silica feed tube through or near a plasma arc coupling zone in which at least two plasma arcs of opposite polarity are coupled, thereby raising the... | 10/26/1993 |
| 5204508 | Method and apparatus for enhancing the quality of cast billets A method and apparatus is disclosed for removing chevron cracks from the corner edges of a steel billet as it advances in a hot condition from a continuous casting operation. The apparatus includes a framework which mounts four plasma arc torches which ar... | 04/20/1993 |
| 5136137 | Apparatus for high temperature disposal of hazardous waste materials An improved method and plasma torch incinerator or reactor in which the incinerator uses a rotating, materials-receiving drum or chamber for receiving the hot plasma of a plasma torch. By properly constructing the inner surface of the rotatable drum and b... | 08/04/1992 |
| 5120567 | Low frequency plasma spray method in which a stable plasma is created by operating a spray gun at less than 1 MHz in a mixture of argon and helium gas A low frequency RF plasma spray deposition method is provided, which is especially effective in reducing losses and improving particle heating. In one aspect of the invention, an RF plasma gun is operated in the frequency range below 1 MHz and an argon-he... | 06/09/1992 |
| 5104432 | Process for fiberizing molten glass or refractory oxide materials A process for the treatment of a continuous or perturbated stream of liquid material, which process consists essentially of passing the said stream of liquid material through a plasma arc coupling zone in which at least two plasma arcs are coupled at the ... | 04/14/1992 |
| 5076991 | Method and apparatus for rapid solidification A novel process for rapid solidification of ceramic melts combines certain features of cooling by atomization and by contact with chilling surfaces. The material to be solidified is divided into fine liquid droplets that are propelled by a rapid flow of g... | 12/31/1991 |
| 5046144 | Method and furnace for the preparation of a melt for mineral wool production In a method for the preparation of a melt for the production of mineral wool a raw material is introduced at the top of a shaft furnace and heated to melting temperature partly with a hot gas formed by plasma heating and partly with a hot gas formed by co... | 09/03/1991 |
