Patents by Inventor Frederick G. McMullen

Frederick G. McMullen has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6039774
    Abstract: A self-sustaining system for converting organic waste feedstreams into usable solid and gas end products includes a plurality of interconnected retorts, an apparatus for flash pyrolyzing the feedstream to form intermediate gas and solid products, a source for introducing a water spray to refine and cool the intermediate products, a device for separating the gas product from the solid product and a device for regenerating, and thereby further refining, the solid product. In a self-sustaining process, wastes which would otherwise be landfilled are converted to an activated carbon product and a combustible gas mixture of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and lower hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Inventors: Frederick G. McMullen, Dillon G. McMullen, Roger B. McMullen
  • Patent number: 5589599
    Abstract: A self-sustaining system and process for converting organic waste feedstreams into usable solid and gas end products includes a plurality of interconnected retorts, an apparatus for flash pyrolyzing the feedstream to form intermediate gas and solid products, a means for introducing a water spray to refine and cool the intermediate products, a means for separating the gas product from the solid product and a means for regenerating, and thereby further refining, the solid product. In a self-sustaining process, wastes which would otherwise be landfilled are converted to an activated carbon product and a combustible gas mixture of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and lower hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Inventors: Frederick G. McMullen, Dillon G. McMullen, Roger B. McMullen
  • Patent number: 4705603
    Abstract: Pyrolytic apparatus for the rapid and efficient thermal dissociation of matter is disclosed. The apparatus includes a concentric tubular arrangement of high thermal conductivity in a heat sink configuration; inlet members for heat and feedstock; outlet members for solids, gases and heat exhaust; and a plurality of annular passages through which heat is brought into heat transfer relationship with an interior pyrolytic retort section for the dissociation of matter conveyed therein into solid, liquid and gaseous by-products. Provisions are made for the separate liberation of steam produced by the simultaneous interfacing of superheated steam and product gas during pyrolytic decomposition of high moisture content feedstocks. Additional hydrocarbons from the product gas evoluted in the pyrolytic retort section are provided by diversion of the gas to an annulus flanked on either side by adjacent annuli conveying the heat source supply to exit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1987
    Inventors: Roger B. McMullen, Dillon G. McMullen, Frederick G. McMullen
  • Patent number: 4321150
    Abstract: The process disclosed includes treating settled sludge and/or organic debris recovered from a wastewater treatment system and thermally converting the treated material and/or comminuted organic solid wastes separately or in combination into steam combustible gas, residual tars and oils and other energy by-products which are recycled as heat for increasing the thermodynamic efficiency of the process. The process further includes cleaning the combustible gas which is provided during the thermal conversion so that the gas is suitable for driving gas engine or gas turbine generators and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1982
    Inventor: Frederick G. McMullen
  • Patent number: 4321151
    Abstract: The process disclosed includes treating settled sludge and/or organic debris recovered from a wastewater treatment system and thermally converting the treated material and/or comminuted organic solid wastes separately or in combination into steam, combustible gas, residual tars and oils and other energy by-products which are recycled as heat for increasing the thermodynamic efficiency of the process. In one embodiment of the invention the process includes cleaning the combustible gas which is provided during the thermal conversion, with the clean gas driving a heat engine such as a gas engine or gas turbine generator or the like. In another embodiment of the invention the gas drives the heat engine without the above described benefit of the aforenoted cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1982
    Inventor: Frederick G. McMullen
  • Patent number: 4172431
    Abstract: An industrial boiler comprising a combustion chamber having a furnace therein, means for feeding products of combustion from the combustion chamber to a heat exchanger to heat water/stream therein, a pyrolytic retort, means to feed said products of combustion into heat transfer relationship with the retort to pyrolize material therein and means to feed products of pyrolysis from the retort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1979
    Assignee: Parkinson Cowan GWB Limited
    Inventors: John A. Tatem, Reginald D. Northcote, Frederick G. McMullen