Energy-efficient yankee dryer hood system

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 8132338
  • Patent Number
    8,132,338
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, April 6, 2010
    14 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, March 13, 2012
    12 years ago
Abstract
A paper machine configured as a swing machine capable of producing both light and heavy grades providing a Yankee hood split into a wet end half and a dry end half, at least one hood half being a flex-hood half wherein the supply for that half is capable of being run with either combustion heat or recycled heat and is capable of either recirculating the exhaust from the hood or discharging it to the atmosphere. The heater for the flex-hood half comprises both a primary combustion heat source and an indirect heat source capable of extracting by-product heat from another operation. The exhaust system for the flex hood half is capable of being run in either a straight through mode or in a recirculating mode.
Description
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Vast amounts of energy are used in the manufacture of paper products. Paper is traditionally formed by depositing an extremely dilute suspension of cellulosic fibers in water on a moving foraminous support to form a nascent web, dewatering the nascent web to a consistency of between about 35 and 48 percent, then evaporating the remaining water from the dewatered nascent web. Since it requires approximately a thousand BTU's (1,055,055 joules) to evaporate each pound (453.6 grams) of water, and is extremely difficult to dewater the nascent web to a consistency of greater than about 95%, it can be appreciated that a paper machine capable of producing around 300 tons (304,814 kilograms) of paper in 24 hours will use enough energy to heat several hundred medium sized houses over an entire heating season.


In the case of absorbent paper products, tissue, primarily bath tissue, toweling (kitchen roll toweling, hand towels, wipers), facial tissue and napkins, the dewatered nascent web is often dried by adhering the dewatered nascent web to an extremely large internally heated rotating cast-iron cylinder referred to as a Yankee dryer, with the web being removed from the Yankee dryer by creping. Even though the heat transfer between the Yankee and the dewatered nascent web is extremely good, Yankee dryers typically are largely encompassed by a hood which directs heated air against the nascent web upon the surface of the Yankee to further augment the drying rate. This invention relates to an extremely flexible arrangement for managing Yankee dryer hoods to enable the operators to match the energy consumption required to the demands of the particular product being manufactured at any one time.


Often paper machines will be configured as “swing machines”—machines capable of producing several grades of tissue (facial or bath) and toweling depending on particular market demands. In most cases, toweling grades will be considerably heavier than tissue grades, so more energy is often required for toweling grades than tissue. Similarly, the lightest tissue grades may be under 9½ pounds per ream (15.46 g/M2) while heavier grades may have a basis weight of over 13 pounds per ream (21.16 g/M2); so there is also considerable variation between heating load for the lighter weights as compared to the heavier weights of tissue. We are able to address the energy requirements for both heavy and light grades in a cost-effective and flexible manner by providing a hood which is split into a wet end half and a dry end half, at least one hood half being a flex-hood half wherein the supply source for that half is capable of being run with either combustion heat or recycled heat and is capable of either recirculating the exhaust from the hood or discharging it to the atmosphere. Accordingly, the heater for the flex-hood half comprises both a primary combustion heat source and an indirect heat source capable of extracting heat which is a by-product of another operation in the mill while the exhaust system for that hood half is capable of being run in either a straight through mode in which the exhaust from the hood half is discharged to the atmosphere or in a recirculating mode in which the bulk of the exhaust is returned to the heater to be reheated then passed through the hood half again with makeup air being introduced primarily to make up for air lost around the hood edges as well as exhaust bled off to limit hood humidity. Accordingly, the exhaust system incorporates ductwork capable of either returning the bulk of the exhaust gas from the flex hood half to the heater section or discharging (with heat recovery) that exhaust gas to the atmosphere along with a diverter to control how the exhaust is handled. In either case, there will generally be at least some discharge to the atmosphere to prevent excessive buildup humidity in the loop.





BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS


FIG. 1 is a schematic isometric perspective illustrating the tending side of a Yankee dryer set up with two flexible hood halves.



FIG. 2 is a schematic isometric perspective illustrating the drive side of a Yankee dryer set up with two flexible hood halves.



FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic cross section of a burner usable in connection with the present invention.



FIG. 4 illustrates another variant of a split hood system of the present invention for supply, removal and recirculation of heated air.



FIG. 5 is schematic isometric perspective illustrating the drive side of a Yankee dryer showing the paper flow therethrough.





DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In FIGS. 1 and 2, Yankee dryer cylinder 20 is partially encompassed on its wet end side by wet end dryer hood half 22 and by dry end dryer hood half 24 on its dry end side. In the preferred embodiment, each hood half has substantially the same operability; so only the wet end hood half need be described, although in some cases it may be convenient to omit the below described straight through operation mode from one hood half but not the other. In the preferred construction, in each hood half for drying of tissue 25 (FIG. 5) on Yankee cylinder, heated air, typically ranging in temperature from perhaps 600 to 950° F. (315.6 to 510° C.), is supplied through its respective heater 26 connected to supply duct 28 which delivers the heated air to hood half 22 or 24. Moisture laden “cool” air, at perhaps 400 to 500° F. (204.4 to 260° C.), is removed from hood half 22 or 24 through exhaust duct 30 leading to junction 32. In junction 32, it is possible to either (i) direct exhaust air either to upper port 40 (FIG. 3) for additional heating by burner 52 (FIG. 3) and thence back to its respective hood half 22 or 24 or (ii) through lower port 42 connected to air-to-air heat exchanger 43 (FIG. 3) so that heat in the exhaust may be recovered and the exhaust moisture laden cooled air exhausted to the atmosphere through external exhaust duct 36.


As shown in FIG. 3, when the exhaust from the hood is directed to upper port 40, moisture laden cool air returns to heater 26 through return duct 38 while makeup air enters through lower port 42 to offset leakage around the edges of hood half 22 or 24 (FIGS. 1 and 2) as well as to prevent build-up of excessive humidity in the hood. The combined reheated stream exits through exhaust port 44 leading back to hood half 22 or 24. Optionally, make-up air entering through lower port 42 may be preheated with process waste heat available from elsewhere in the mill as it passes over process heat exchanger coil 46.


As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, moisture laden cool air can alternatively be directed through lower port 42, through air-to-air heat exchanger 43, impelled through external exhaust duct 36 by exhaust fan 48 and exhausted through external exhaust port 50. In this case, when moisture laden cool air is not returned to heater 26 for reheating but rather is used to assist in preheating the stream of fresh air supplied to hood half 22 or 24, it is not necessary to operate burner 52, all of the necessary heat being supplied as make-up air passes over air-to-air heat exchanger 43 and water-to-air process heat exchanger coil 46 which is heated through externally generated steam or hot water supplied as process waste heat from elsewhere in the mill.


In FIG. 4, damper 61 controls entry of makeup air into air-to-air heat exchanger 43 and process heat exchanger coil 46 prior to entry into supply duct 28 leading through burner 52 to wet end hood half 22 partially encompassing the wet end of Yankee dryer cylinder 20. Moisture laden cool air exits wet end hood half 22 through hood exhaust duct 30. The ultimate disposition of moisture laden cool air in duct 30 is controlled jointly by dampers 62 and 63, damper 62 when open permitting cool moisture laden air to pass through air-to-air heat exchanger 43 prior to being exhausted to the atmosphere, while damper 63, when open, permits cool moisture laden air to be recirculated through burner 52 to wet end hood half 22. In most cases, damper 61 will be open partially, typically approximately 15%, damper 62 being adjusted in the range 20 to 60% to maintain the moisture in the recirculating loop at the desired level.


Similarly, on the dry inside, damper 65 controls entry of air into air-to-air heat exchanger 43 and process heat exchanger coil 46 prior to entry into supply duct 28 leading through burner 52 to dry end hood half 24 encompassing the dry end of Yankee dryer cylinder 20. Moisture laden cool air exits dry end hood half 24 through hood exhaust duct 30, the ultimate disposition of moisture laden cool air being controlled by dampers 66 and 67, air passing through damper 66 flowing through air-to-air heat exchanger 43 before being discharged to the atmosphere. Air flowing through damper 67 is recirculated through burner 52 to dry end hood half 24 with moisture build-up being controlled as above.


In cases where a heavier grade is being manufactured, it will often be advantageous to operate the Yankee with both hood halves being in the recirculating mode, i.e., with both exhaust streams being directed back to the supply duct for the respective hood half with significant operational efficiency being gained by preheating the makeup air for both hood halves 22 and 24 by use of process waste heat supplied through process heat exchanger coils 46. However, when lighter grades, such as lightweight bath tissue base sheet, particularly bath tissue base sheet for 2-ply tissue grades are being produced, it will often be advantageous for the wet end hood half to be operated in the recirculating mode with only a small part of the exhaust being discharged through the air-to-air heat exchanger 43 and the burner 52 in full operation while the dry end half is operated in the straight through mode, i.e., exhaust being directed though the air-to-air heat exchanger 43 and only recovered heat from the hood exhaust and process waste heat being used to supply the heat required for drying, burner not being operated. In this way, because the exhaust off of the Yankee dryer cylinder 20 is not recirculated, it is possible to dry the tissue on the dry end half of the Yankee with air at a temperature around 350 to 450° F. (176.7 to 232.2° C.) preventing a great deal of heat waste. Normally when the exhaust from a Yankee is recirculated, it is necessary to use far higher drying temperatures, typically greater than about 550° F. (287.8° C.), to ensure that loose fibers entrained in the gas stream are combusted fully before reentry into the hood half or the resulting sheet may be degraded in quality and appearance.


In one case, the split hood system of the present invention was operated on a 300 ton (304,814 kilogram) per year swing machine producing approximately 60% heavy weight tissue and the remainder light. When heavy tissue was being produced, the hood system was operated in a recirculating mode with damper 61 open approximately 15% to allow fresh make-up air to be bled into the system preventing excessive build up of humidity in the drying circuit, damper 62 open from about 20 to 60% (depending upon the humidity experienced in the drying, the humidity in the drying circuit desirably being maintained between about 0.2 and 0.7 pounds (90.7 and 317.5 grams) of water per pound (453.6 grams) of dry air) allowing heat in moisture laden air being discharged from the system to preheat the make-up air entering through damper 61, damper 63 open 100% to facilitate a high degree of recirculation of heated air with damper 64 closed. On the dry end side of the hood, damper 65 was open about 15% to allow make-up air to be bled into the system, damper 66 being open 20-60% (similarly to damper 63 on the wet end side), damper 67 open 100% and damper 68 fully closed.


When light tissue was being produced, the wet end side was operated similarly to when heavy tissue was being produced but the dry end side was operated with damper 65 open 100%, damper 66 open 100%, damper 67 fully closed and damper 68 fully closed. The energy savings calculated based on fuel consumption rates were in excess of 35% or a million dollars a year at natural gas prices of $9 to $10 per million BTU (1,055,055,900 joules). During this period, dampers 72, 76, 84 and 86 were normally open while dampers 74, 80 and 82 were normally closed.


In other cases, the flexibility to run the wet end in the once through mode and the dry end in recirculating mode may prove beneficial although it is expected that this need would arise less frequently. To provide further flexibility in operation of the machine, it can be appreciated that by appropriate adjustment of the valving system illustrated in FIG. 4, it is possible to use the wet end burner to heat the air supplied to the dry end side of the hood system as might be required in various circumstances.

Claims
  • 1. A method for operating a paper machine for manufacture of absorbent paper, comprising the steps of providing a paper machine having: (a) a forming loop comprising a headbox and a translating foraminous support;(b) a dryer section adapted to receive absorbent paper from said forming loop; and(c) a reel adapted to receive absorbent paper from said dryer system;and a dryer section comprising: (i) a rotable Yankee dryer cylinder internally heated by steam;(ii) a wet end hood section encompassing a portion of said Yankee dryer cylinder adjacent Ruining loop;(iii) a dry end hood section encompassing a portion of said Yankee dryer cylinder adjacent said reel;(iv) a dryer system exhaust;(v) a wet end hood supply duct having a process heat exchanger, a first exhaust gas heat exchanger and a first burner disposed therein adapted to supply heated air to said wet end hood section;(vi) a wet end hood exhaust duct adapted to receive air from said wet end hood section;(vii) a wet end return duct adapted to supply air from said wet end hood exhaust duct to said wet end hood supply duct;(viii) a first diverter damper system connected between said wet end hood exhaust duct and said wet end return duct, said first diverter damper being operable to selectively direct a quantity of moisture laden air exhausted from said wet end hood section to said wet end hood supply duct or alternatively to said dryer system exhaust through said first exhaust gas heat exchanger;(ix) a dry end hood supply duct having a second process heat exchanger, a second exhaust gas heat exchanger and a second burner disposed therein adapted to supply heated air to said dry end hood section;(x) a dry end hood exhaust duct adapted to receive air from said dry end hood section;(xi) a dry end return duct adapted to deliver air from said dry end hood exhaust duct to said dry end hood supply duct; and(xii) a second diverter damper system connected between said dry end hood supply duct and said dry end return duct, said second diverter damper system being operable to selectively direct air exhausted from said dry end hood section to said dry end hood supply duct or alternatively to said dryer system exhaust through said second exhaust gas heat exchanger;
  • 2. A method for operating a paper machine for manufacture of absorbent paper, comprising the steps of providing a paper machine having: (a) a forming loop comprising a headbox and a translating foraminous support;(b) a dryer section adapted to receive absorbent paper from said forming loop; and(c) a reel adapted to receive absorbent paper from said dryer system;wherein said dryer section comprises: (i) a rotable Yankee dryer cylinder internally heated by steam;(ii) a wet end hood section encompassing a portion of said Yankee dryer cylinder adjacent forming loop;(iii) a dry end hood section encompassing a portion of said Yankee dryer cylinder adjacent said reel;(iv) a dryer system exhaust;(v) a wet end hood supply duct having a first burner disposed therein adapted to supply heated air to said wet end hood section;(vi) a wet end hood exhaust duct adapted to receive moisture laden air from said wet end hood section;(vii) a wet end return duct adapted to supply air from said wet end hood exhaust duct to said wet end hood supply duct;(viii) a dry end hood supply duct having a second burner disposed therein adapted to supply heated air to said dry end hood section;(ix) a dry end hood exhaust duct adapted to receive moisture laden air from said dry end hood section;(x) a dry end return duct adapted to deliver air from said dry end hood exhaust duct to said dry end hood supply duct;(xi) at least one of said supply ducts having an air to air heat exchanger disposed therein adapted for heating air supplied therethrough; and(xii) a diverter damper system adapted to direct moisture laden gas exhausted from one of said hood halves to said heat exchanger and heat air supplied though one of said supply ducts;
  • 3. A method of operating a paper machine having a Yankee dryer with a hood which is split between a wet end hood half and a dry end hood half, comprising the steps of: (a) recirculating air from said wet end hood half through a burner and back to the wet end hood half while introducing sufficient make up air to: maintain the temperature of the stream returned to said wet end hood half at over about 550° F.; and(ii) maintain the humidity of the air stream returned to said wet end hood half at between about 0.2 and 07 pounds of water per pound of air; while(b) passing fresh air to said dry end hood half at a temperature of between 350° F. and 450° F.; and discharging said air from said dry end hood half to the atmosphere through an air to air heat exchanger.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/740,533, filed Apr. 26, 2007, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/746,277, filed May 3, 2006. The priorities of the foregoing applications are hereby claimed and the entirety of their disclosures incorporated herein by reference.

US Referenced Citations (249)
Number Name Date Kind
1470650 Smith Oct 1923 A
2268988 Hess et al. Jan 1942 A
2348178 Merle May 1944 A
2515651 Harrison et al. Jul 1950 A
2554239 Caulfield et al. May 1951 A
2575426 Parnell Nov 1951 A
2643107 Kamm et al. Jun 1953 A
2721144 Penley Oct 1955 A
2791039 Rosenbaum May 1957 A
2828752 Jackson Apr 1958 A
2932092 Rosenbaum Apr 1960 A
2933826 Justus Apr 1960 A
3076729 Garbo Feb 1963 A
3208158 Smith, Jr. Sep 1965 A
3231985 Smith, Jr. Feb 1966 A
3235972 Hood et al. Feb 1966 A
3252415 Crawford May 1966 A
3377056 Boye Apr 1968 A
3403643 Denig Oct 1968 A
3486345 Waldin Dec 1969 A
3643344 Strube Feb 1972 A
3645006 Anderson Feb 1972 A
3688785 Stevens et al. Sep 1972 A
3771236 Candor et al. Nov 1973 A
3791049 Smith, Jr. Feb 1974 A
3793741 Smith, Jr. Feb 1974 A
3836681 Dodd Sep 1974 A
3884161 Ankersen May 1975 A
3884163 Ankersen May 1975 A
3891500 Kankaanpaa Jun 1975 A
3962213 Flynn Jun 1976 A
4074441 Helversen et al. Feb 1978 A
4083745 Muller Apr 1978 A
4124942 Ohls Nov 1978 A
4151689 Schabert May 1979 A
4154644 Ericsson May 1979 A
RE30169 Flynn Dec 1979 E
4185399 Gladish Jan 1980 A
4247990 Ohls Feb 1981 A
4248671 Belding Feb 1981 A
4268974 Price May 1981 A
4287138 Buckner Sep 1981 A
4297167 Schabert Oct 1981 A
4365425 Gotchel Dec 1982 A
4367699 Evans Jan 1983 A
4378207 Smith Mar 1983 A
4413427 Villalobos et al. Nov 1983 A
4423956 Gordon Jan 1984 A
4425763 Porta et al. Jan 1984 A
4457703 Ross Jul 1984 A
4462169 Daane Jul 1984 A
4462868 Oubridge et al. Jul 1984 A
4474552 Smith Oct 1984 A
4487139 Warner Dec 1984 A
4502228 Helbig et al. Mar 1985 A
4504220 Sunakawa et al. Mar 1985 A
4523390 McCarthy Jun 1985 A
4526112 Warner Jul 1985 A
4534312 Shinya et al. Aug 1985 A
4557202 Warner Dec 1985 A
4577380 Warner Mar 1986 A
4589843 Smith May 1986 A
4598555 Windecker Jul 1986 A
4624109 Minovitch Nov 1986 A
4627176 Brieu Dec 1986 A
4669530 Warner Jun 1987 A
4728287 Niems Mar 1988 A
4776391 Warner Oct 1988 A
4780967 Mucic Nov 1988 A
4940134 Aoki et al. Jul 1990 A
4949477 Geiger Aug 1990 A
5009016 LePisto et al. Apr 1991 A
5024596 Smith Jun 1991 A
5033207 Sturm Jul 1991 A
5046944 Smith Sep 1991 A
5090898 Smith Feb 1992 A
5130170 Kanai et al. Jul 1992 A
5162445 Powers et al. Nov 1992 A
5255448 Buckner Oct 1993 A
5285752 Reed et al. Feb 1994 A
5406008 Sievert Apr 1995 A
5416979 Joiner May 1995 A
5425792 Bishop et al. Jun 1995 A
5426167 Powers et al. Jun 1995 A
5430118 Powers et al. Jul 1995 A
5506117 Andrews et al. Apr 1996 A
5510151 Matsuyama et al. Apr 1996 A
5512312 Forney et al. Apr 1996 A
5520740 Kanai et al. May 1996 A
5548023 Powers et al. Aug 1996 A
5548029 Powers et al. Aug 1996 A
5555856 Bauer et al. Sep 1996 A
5577575 Mielo Nov 1996 A
5582271 Mielo Dec 1996 A
5601707 Clay et al. Feb 1997 A
5629054 Kanai May 1997 A
5654379 Powers et al. Aug 1997 A
5656044 Bishop et al. Aug 1997 A
5678321 Deshpande et al. Oct 1997 A
5683478 Anonychuk Nov 1997 A
5704965 Tom et al. Jan 1998 A
5711086 Stubbing Jan 1998 A
5714010 Matsuyama et al. Feb 1998 A
5791065 Gamble et al. Aug 1998 A
5791566 Higo et al. Aug 1998 A
5815943 Puumalainen Oct 1998 A
5837027 Olander et al. Nov 1998 A
5840101 Keller Nov 1998 A
5851246 Bishop et al. Dec 1998 A
5865898 Holtzapple et al. Feb 1999 A
5942142 Forney et al. Aug 1999 A
5959049 Powers et al. Sep 1999 A
5974691 Marchal et al. Nov 1999 A
5976220 Braun et al. Nov 1999 A
6003241 Komulainen et al. Dec 1999 A
6085437 Stipp Jul 2000 A
6096389 Kanai Aug 2000 A
6128833 Juppi et al. Oct 2000 A
6138380 Veijola et al. Oct 2000 A
6149814 Allington et al. Nov 2000 A
6154981 Heikkila et al. Dec 2000 A
6209456 Murray et al. Apr 2001 B1
RE37150 Anonychuk May 2001 E
6230501 Bailey, Sr. et al. May 2001 B1
6248153 Braun et al. Jun 2001 B1
6294088 Allington et al. Sep 2001 B1
6308436 Stipp Oct 2001 B1
6365004 Hamstrom et al. Apr 2002 B1
6393719 Stipp May 2002 B1
6395226 Plunkett May 2002 B1
6398909 Klerelid Jun 2002 B1
6488816 Klerelid Dec 2002 B1
6505437 Johnstone et al. Jan 2003 B1
6511052 Tonkin et al. Jan 2003 B1
6551461 Hermans et al. Apr 2003 B2
6554368 Drake et al. Apr 2003 B2
6631566 Ross et al. Oct 2003 B2
6694639 Hanaya Feb 2004 B2
6775925 Zagar et al. Aug 2004 B2
6779577 Kaneko et al. Aug 2004 B1
6790315 Klerelid Sep 2004 B2
6793079 Khan et al. Sep 2004 B2
6865825 Bailey, Sr. et al. Mar 2005 B2
6869147 Drake et al. Mar 2005 B2
6877246 Hada et al. Apr 2005 B1
6904700 Hada et al. Jun 2005 B2
6910283 Reddy Jun 2005 B1
6919543 Abbott et al. Jul 2005 B2
6929330 Drake et al. Aug 2005 B2
6953516 Hermans et al. Oct 2005 B2
6964117 Parent Nov 2005 B2
6977028 Ross et al. Dec 2005 B2
7089682 Sundqvist et al. Aug 2006 B2
7107706 Bailey, Sr. et al. Sep 2006 B1
7117827 Hinderks Oct 2006 B1
7143525 Hada et al. Dec 2006 B2
7176420 Abbott et al. Feb 2007 B2
7204041 Bailey, Sr. et al. Apr 2007 B1
7225558 Hagen et al. Jun 2007 B2
7266965 Blackstone Sep 2007 B2
7266966 Blackstone Sep 2007 B2
7326263 Andersen Feb 2008 B2
7328806 Khan et al. Feb 2008 B2
7381931 Hayashi et al. Jun 2008 B2
7389255 Formisano Jun 2008 B2
7399325 Redmond Jul 2008 B1
7410619 Reiser et al. Aug 2008 B2
7429311 Pietikainen et al. Sep 2008 B2
7438027 Hinderks Oct 2008 B1
7530403 Cano May 2009 B2
7531029 Hoke et al. May 2009 B2
7578285 Buelow et al. Aug 2009 B2
7610780 Malaguti Nov 2009 B2
7611792 Tonkin et al. Nov 2009 B2
20010045104 Bailey, Sr. et al. Nov 2001 A1
20020014080 Robbie et al. Feb 2002 A1
20020096512 Abbott et al. Jul 2002 A1
20020176809 Siess Nov 2002 A1
20020179269 Klerelid Dec 2002 A1
20030019125 Hanaya Jan 2003 A1
20030019601 Hermans et al. Jan 2003 A1
20030024686 Ouellette Feb 2003 A1
20030025219 Tonkin et al. Feb 2003 A1
20030089474 Zwick et al. May 2003 A1
20030121906 Abbott et al. Jul 2003 A1
20030127030 Cardin et al. Jul 2003 A1
20030145481 Zagar et al. Aug 2003 A1
20030153059 Pilkington et al. Aug 2003 A1
20030221438 Rane et al. Dec 2003 A1
20040003906 Hermans et al. Jan 2004 A1
20040005252 Siess Jan 2004 A1
20040033739 Courtney Feb 2004 A1
20040099575 Khan et al. May 2004 A1
20040118009 Parent Jun 2004 A1
20040128858 Sundqvist et al. Jul 2004 A1
20040131541 Andersen Jul 2004 A1
20040168459 Blackstone Sep 2004 A1
20040256294 Khan et al. Dec 2004 A1
20050016199 Blackstone Jan 2005 A1
20050051465 Khan et al. Mar 2005 A1
20050072023 Hada et al. Apr 2005 A1
20050108982 Formisano May 2005 A1
20050132598 Reddy Jun 2005 A1
20050138832 Hada et al. Jun 2005 A1
20050155734 Hermans et al. Jul 2005 A1
20050175665 Hunter et al. Aug 2005 A1
20050175703 Hunter et al. Aug 2005 A1
20050178138 Blackstone Aug 2005 A1
20050178395 Hunter et al. Aug 2005 A1
20050178396 Hunter et al. Aug 2005 A1
20050182463 Hunter et al. Aug 2005 A1
20050183731 Hunter et al. Aug 2005 A1
20050186244 Hunter et al. Aug 2005 A1
20050187140 Hunter et al. Aug 2005 A1
20050196421 Hunter et al. Sep 2005 A1
20050208095 Hunter et al. Sep 2005 A1
20050214408 Pilkington et al. Sep 2005 A1
20050224236 Cano Oct 2005 A1
20050230378 Abbott et al. Oct 2005 A1
20050236400 Abbott et al. Oct 2005 A1
20050247694 Abbott et al. Nov 2005 A1
20050247699 Abbott et al. Nov 2005 A1
20050274499 Rule Dec 2005 A1
20060021249 Hagen et al. Feb 2006 A1
20060041448 Patterson et al. Feb 2006 A1
20060051516 Pietikainen et al. Mar 2006 A1
20060137886 Cano Jun 2006 A1
20060154190 Reiser et al. Jul 2006 A1
20060257999 Chang et al. Nov 2006 A1
20060259195 Eliuk et al. Nov 2006 A1
20060272508 Hoke et al. Dec 2006 A1
20070051009 Hada et al. Mar 2007 A1
20070107701 Buelow et al. May 2007 A1
20070151216 Charriere Jul 2007 A1
20070215004 Kuroda et al. Sep 2007 A1
20070231877 Choate Oct 2007 A1
20080004477 Brunsell et al. Jan 2008 A1
20080034606 Deem et al. Feb 2008 A1
20080066484 Blackstone Mar 2008 A1
20080119673 Hechler et al. May 2008 A1
20080207970 Meurer et al. Aug 2008 A1
20090042281 Chang et al. Feb 2009 A1
20090044932 Blackstone Feb 2009 A1
20090126260 Aravanis et al. May 2009 A1
20090216910 Duchesneau Aug 2009 A1
20090218108 Cano Sep 2009 A1
20090272361 Buelow et al. Nov 2009 A1
20090280036 Reiser et al. Nov 2009 A1
20090288311 Da Silva et al. Nov 2009 A1
Related Publications (1)
Number Date Country
20100192403 A1 Aug 2010 US
Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
60746277 May 2006 US
Continuations (1)
Number Date Country
Parent 11740533 Apr 2007 US
Child 12754656 US