James R Mcclain

Author:

James L. McClain

ISBN #:

0300027362

Author:

James L. McClain

ISBN #:

0393041565

Author:

James L. McClain

ISBN #:

0801429870

Author:

James L. McClain

ISBN #:

0801436303

US Patent:

6351973, Mar 5, 2002

Filed:

Feb 3, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/497308

Inventors:

James B. McClain - Raleigh NC
Gary C. Schrebe - Wake Forest NC

Assignee:

MiCell Technologies, Inc. - Raleigh NC

International Classification:

D06F 4302

US Classification:

68140, 134120

Abstract:

A cleaning apparatus adapted for use with a carbon dioxide cleaning medium comprises a body member, a door connected to the body member and together with the body member forming a pressure vessel, a basket disposed within the body member, a motor contained within the pressure vessel, and a drive mechanism contained within the pressure vessel for rotating the basket with the motor. Because the motor and drive mechanism are both contained within the pressure vessel, the need for a rotating shaft that penetrates the pressure vessel, and which must be sealed at least in part against the high pressure liquid contained therein, is obviated.

US Patent:

6397421, Jun 4, 2002

Filed:

Sep 24, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/404957

Inventors:

David E. Brainard - Knightdale NC
James B. McClain - Raleigh NC
Michael E. Cole - Raleigh NC
Steve L. Worm - Raleigh NC

Assignee:

Micell Technologies - Raleigh NC

International Classification:

D06B 1500

US Classification:

8158, 8142, 68 18 R

Abstract:

A method for conserving carbon dioxide vapor in a carbon dioxide dry cleaning system employing a liquid carbon dioxide cleaning solution to clean articles, where the method includes removing carbon dioxide vapor from a wash tank to a vapor tank, storing the carbon dioxide vapor in the vapor tank; and charging the wash tank with carbon dioxide vapor from the vapor tank. The method may be performed as part of a wash cycle that includes filling the wash tank with cleaning solution, washing articles to be cleaned in the wash tank, and emptying the cleaning solution out of the wash tank. An apparatus may also be employed for conserving carbon dioxide vapor in a carbon dioxide dry cleaning system employing a liquid carbon dioxide cleaning solution to clean articles, where the apparatus includes a wash tank for contacting the articles to be cleaned with the liquid carbon dioxide cleaning solution, a working tank for storing liquid carbon dioxide cleaning solution, a vapor tank for storing carbon dioxide vapor, a first piping system providing fluid communication between the wash tank and the vapor tank, where the first piping system includes a first line and a first valve residing in the first line, and a second piping system providing fluid communication between the working tank and the wash tank. Methods and apparatus for collecting liquid carbon dioxide in a collecting tank are also provided.

US Patent:

6413574, Jul 2, 2002

Filed:

May 26, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/579676

Inventors:

Timothy J. Romack - Durham NC
James B. McClain - Carrboro NC
Gina M. Stewart - Durham NC
Ramone D. Givens - Durham NC

Assignee:

Micell Technologies, Inc. - Raleigh NC

International Classification:

A61J 306

US Classification:

427 214, 427212, 4274301

Abstract:

A separation method includes (a) providing a heterogeneous separation system, the heterogeneous cleaning system comprising CO in a first phase and an oil in a separate second phase; (b) entraining a material to be separated in the second phase; (c) wholly or partially solubilizing the second phase in the first phase to produce a separation system in which said material to be separated is insoluble; and then (d) separating the material from the system. The separating step is preferably followed by the step of (e) recovering at least a portion of the oil. The system is useful in a variety of applications, including cleaning (particularly metal cleaning), polymerization, extraction, coating, and particle formation and treatment.

US Patent:

6491730, Dec 10, 2002

Filed:

Jul 20, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/621314

Inventors:

James P. DeYoung - Durham NC
James B. McClain - Raleigh NC

Assignee:

Micell Technologies, Inc. - Raleigh NC

International Classification:

D06L 108

US Classification:

8142, 8137, 510283, 134 10

Abstract:

A method for dry-cleaning articles such as fabrics and clothing in carbon dioxide. The article includes a stained portion or region, which is pretreated with a pretreatment composition prior to initiating the cleaning cycle. The pretreatment step is followed by contacting the pretreated article to be cleaned with a liquid dry cleaning composition for a time sufficient to clean the article. The liquid dry-cleaning composition comprises a mixture of carbon dioxide, a surfactant, and an organic co-solvent. After the contacting step, the article is separated from the liquid dry cleaning composition. The pretreatment composition, in a preferred embodiment, comprises at least one of (a) a surfactant; (b) d-limonene, and (c) a C12-C15 alkane co-solvent. Preferably the pretreatment composition comprises at least two, and in some particularly preferred embodiments, the pretreatment composition comprises all three, of the aforesaid ingredients.

US Patent:

6499322, Dec 31, 2002

Filed:

May 12, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/570224

Inventors:

James P. DeYoung - Durham NC
Timothy J. Romack - Greenville NC
James B. McClain - Raleigh NC

Assignee:

MiCell Technologies, Inc. - Raleigh NC

International Classification:

D06B 510

US Classification:

68 18R, 68 18 C, 68 17 R, 68207

Abstract:

A system for the controlled addition of detergent formulations and the like to a carbon dioxide cleaning apparatus comprises: (a) a high pressure wash vessel; (b) an auxiliary vessel; (c) a drain line connecting the auxiliary vessel to the wash vessel; (d) optionally but preferably, a separate vent line connecting the auxiliary vessel to the wash vessel; (e) a detergent reservoir; and (f) a detergent supply line connecting the detergent reservoir to the auxiliary vessel. An advantage of this apparatus is that, because the detergent formulation can be pumped into the auxiliary vessel in a predetermined aliquot or amount, which predetermined aliquot or amount can then be transferred into the wash vessel where it combines with the liquid carbon dioxide cleaning solution, the detergent formulation can be added to the cleaning solution in a more controlled or accurate manner. An alternate embodiment adapted for the addition of aqueous detergent formulations and the like to a carbon dioxide dry cleaning system under turbulent conditions comprises: (a) a high pressure wash vessel; (b) a filter; (c) a carbon dioxide cleaning solution drain line interconnecting the wash vessel to the filter; (d) a carbon dioxide cleaning solution supply line connecting the filter to the wash vessel; (e) a first high pressure pump (i. e. , a pump that is capable of pumping liquid solutions comprising liquid carbon dioxide) operably connected to the drain line; (f) a detergent formulation reservoir; (g) a detergent formulation supply line connecting the reservoir to the carbon dioxide cleaning solution supply line; and (h) a second high pressure pump operably connected to the detergent formulation supply line for transferring detergent formulation from the detergent formulation reservoir into the carbon dioxide cleaning solution under turbulent conditions.

US Patent:

6506259, Jan 14, 2003

Filed:

Nov 20, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/718020

Inventors:

Timothy J. Romack - Greenville NC
James B. McClain - Raleigh NC
Gina M. Stewart - Durham NC
Ramone D. Givens - Durham NC

Assignee:

Micell Technologies, Inc. - Raleigh NC

International Classification:

B08B 704

US Classification:

134 10, 134 11, 134 13, 134 26, 210634, 210636, 210638

Abstract:

A separation method includes (a) providing a heterogeneous separation system, the heterogeneous cleaning system comprising CO in a first phase and an oil in a separate second phase; (b) entraining a material to be separated in the second phase; (c) wholly or partially solubilizing the second phase in the first phase to produce a separation system in which said material to be separated is insoluble; and then (d) separating the material from the system. The separating step is preferably followed by the step of (e) recovering at least a portion of the oil. The system is useful in a variety of applications, including cleaning (particularly metal cleaning), polymerization, extraction, coating, and particle formation and treatment.

US Patent:

6536059, Mar 25, 2003

Filed:

Jan 12, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/760346

Inventors:

James B. McClain - Raleigh NC
Michael E. Cole - Raleigh NC

Assignee:

MiCell Technologies, Inc. - Raleigh NC

International Classification:

D06F 3908

US Classification:

8158, 8159, 68 18 C, 68207

Abstract:

The present invention provides a method for the pumpless transfer of liquid carbon dioxide cleaning medium in a carbon dioxide dry cleaning apparatus having a wash vessel, a working vessel, a vapor vessel, and a compressor. The apparatus is preferably overpressurized with an overpressurization gas such as air. The method comprises (a) storing liquid carbon dioxide dry cleaning medium in the working vessel; (b) storing a vapor comprising air and carbon dioxide as a gas under pressure in the vapor vessel; (c) transferring a portion of the vapor from the vapor vessel to the wash vessel, by at least partially equilibrating the pressure between the vapor vessel and the wash vessel, with the wash vessel remaining at a pressure less then that of the working vessel; then (d) transferring at least a portion of the liquid carbon dioxide cleaning medium from the working vessel to the wash vessel by the force of a pressure differential therebetween; (e) washing articles to be cleaned in the wash vessel while concurrently (f) circulating at least a portion of the liquid dry cleaning medium back and forth between the wash vessel to the working vessel.

US Patent:

6562146, May 13, 2003

Filed:

Aug 17, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/932063

Inventors:

James P. DeYoung - Durham NC
James B. McClain - Raleigh NC
Stephen M. Gross - Chapel Hill NC

Assignee:

Micell Technologies, Inc. - Raleigh NC

International Classification:

B08B 300

US Classification:

134 30, 134 2, 134 3, 134 26, 134 34, 134 36, 134 42, 134902, 438906, 34476, 510175, 510176

Abstract:

A method of cleaning and removing water and entrained solutes during a manufacturing process from a microelectronic device such as a resist-coated semiconductor substrate, a MEMs device, or an optoelectronic device comprising the steps of: (a) providing a partially fabricated integrated circuit, MEMs device, or optoelectronic device having water and entrained solutes on the substrate; (b) providing a densified (e. g. , liquid or supercritical) carbon dioxide drying composition, the drying composition comprising carbon dioxide and a drying adjunct, the drying adjunct selected from the group consisting of cosolvents, surfactants, and combinations thereof; (c) immersing the surface portion in the densified carbon dioxide drying composition; and then (d) removing the drying composition from the surface portion. Process parameters are controlled so that the drying composition is maintained as a homogeneous composition during the immersing step, the removing step, or both the immersing and removing step, without substantial deposition of the drying/cleaning adjunct or entrained solutes on the substrate.