Patents by Inventor Leo Van Miert

Leo Van Miert 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: 9751110
    Abstract: A process for continuously classifying water-absorbing polymer beads by means of at least one screen, at least one screen having at least one guide device on the screen surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: BASF AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Uwe Stueven, Rüdiger Funk, Matthias Weismantel, Meinhard Nitschke, Filip Mees, Leo Van Miert
  • Patent number: 9486777
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles, comprising polymerization, drying the resulting polymer gel on a through circulation belt dryer, crushing the dried polymer gel, pre-grinding, separating of incompletely dried particles with a perforated plate, grinding and classifying the resulting polymer particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Monte Peterson, John Perry Guentzel, Gregory Boykin, Leo Van Miert, Rene Callot, Oskar Stephan, Rüdiger Funk, Matthias Weismantel
  • Patent number: 9382393
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles, comprising polymerization and drying the resulting polymer gel on a through-circulation belt dryer having at the end of the belt in transport direction a means for guiding the dried polymer gel down towards a means for crushing the dried polymer gel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Norbert Eugen Voll, Oskar Stephan, Karl J. Possemiers, Matthias Weismantel, Rüdiger Funk, Monte Peterson, Leo Van Miert, Rene Callot
  • Publication number: 20150315343
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles, comprising polymerization and drying the resulting polymer gel on a through-circulation belt dryer having at the end of the belt in transport direction a means for guiding the dried polymer gel down towards a means for crushing the dried polymer gel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Inventors: Norbert Eugen Voll, Oskar Stephan, Karl J. Possemiers, Matthias Weismantel, Rüdiger Funk, Monte Peterson, Leo Van Miert, Rene Callot
  • Patent number: 8883961
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles, comprising thermal postcrosslinking in a contact dryer having external heated outer surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Monte Peterson, Filip Mees, John Perry Guentzel, Justin Martin, Dominicus van Esbroeck, Karl J. Possemiers, Leo Van Miert, Oskar Stephan, Rüdiger Funk, Matthias Weismantel
  • Patent number: 8828323
    Abstract: A process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles, wherein a polymer gel is removed from a polymerization reactor, stored intermediately as a particulate polymer gel in a delay vessel, removed by means of a first conveying device at the lower end of the delay vessel and dried, the intermediately stored particulate polymer gel being conveyed within the delay vessel by means of at least one second conveying device above the first conveying device in the direction of the first conveying device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Matthias Weismantel, Rüdiger Funk, Ann Becker, Leo Van Miert
  • Patent number: 8790003
    Abstract: The invention relates to the use of an apparatus for adding at least one solid or viscous liquid additive, or an additive dispersed in solvent, to a reactor interior of a reactor for preparing crosslinked, finely divided polymers by copolymerizing (a) water-soluble, monoethylenically unsaturated monomers and (b) from 0.001 to 5 mol %, based on the monomers (a), of monomers comprising at least two polymerizable groups, (c) from 0 to 20 mol %, based on the monomers (a), of water-insoluble monoethylenically unsaturated monomers, where the apparatus comprises at least one screw for conveying the at least one additive and the at least one screw ends in an addition orifice substantially flush with the inner wall of the reactor interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Annemarie Hillebrecht, Uwe Stueven, Leo Van Miert, Dominicus van Esbroeck, Bernd Brian, Siegfried Chszaniecki
  • Patent number: 8765898
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles, comprising handling water-absorbing polymer particles in intermediate silos, storage silos and/or big bag filing stations that are connected with vent lines having a mitered joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Monte Peterson, Ronny De Kaey, Leo Van Miert, Oskar Stephan, Rüdiger Funk, Matthias Weismantel, Dominicus van Esbroeck, Frans van Dyck
  • Publication number: 20140066582
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles, comprising thermal postcrosslinking in a contact dryer having external heated outer surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Monte Peterson, Filip Mees, John Perry Guentzel, Justin Martin, Dominicus van Esbroeck, Karl J. Possemiers, Leo Van Miert, Oskar Stephen, Rüdiger Funk, Mathhias Welsmantel
  • Publication number: 20140066584
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles, comprising polymerization, drying the resulting polymer gel on a through circulation belt dryer, crushing the dried polymer gel, pre-grinding, separating of incompletely dried particles with a perforated plate, grinding and classifying the resulting polymer particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventors: Monte Peterson, John Perry Guentzel, Gregory Boykin, Leo Van Miert, Rene Callot, Oskar Stephan, Rüdiger Funk, Matthias Weismantel
  • Patent number: 8394895
    Abstract: A process for continuous thermal postcrosslinking of water-absorbing polymer particles, wherein the postcrosslinker is applied to the water-absorbing polymer particles by means of suitable nozzles and the nozzles are exchanged or cleaned via the interior of a glovebox adjoining the plant section comprising the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Oskar Stephan, Karl J. Possemiers, Ann Becker, Leo Van Miert, Ronny De Kaey
  • Patent number: 8329844
    Abstract: A process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles, wherein a polymer gel is removed from a polymerization reactor, stored intermediately as a particulate polymer gel in a delay vessel, removed by means of a first conveying device at the lower end of the delay vessel and dried, the intermediately stored particulate polymer gel being conveyed within the delay vessel by means of at least one second conveying device above the first conveying device in the direction of the first conveying device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Matthias Weismantel, Rüdiger Funk, Ann Becker, Leo Van Miert
  • Publication number: 20120184673
    Abstract: The invention relates to the use of an apparatus for adding at least one solid or viscous liquid additive, or an additive dispersed in solvent, to a reactor interior of a reactor for preparing crosslinked, finely divided polymers by copolymerizing (a) water-soluble, monoethylenically unsaturated monomers and (b) from 0.001 to 5 mol %, based on the monomers (a), of monomers comprising at least two polymerizable groups, (c) from 0 to 20 mol %, based on the monomers (a), of water-insoluble monoethylenically unsaturated monomers, where the apparatus comprises at least one screw for conveying the at least one additive and the at least one screw ends in an addition orifice substantially flush with the inner wall of the reactor interior.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventors: Annemarie Hillebrecht, Uwe Stueven, Leo Van Miert, Dominicus van Esbroeck, Bernd Brian, Siegfried Chszaniecki
  • Patent number: 8206027
    Abstract: The invention relates to the use of an apparatus for adding at least one solid or viscous liquid additive, or an additive dispersed in solvent, to a reactor interior of a reactor for preparing crosslinked, finely divided polymers by copolymerizing (a) water-soluble, monoethylenically unsaturated monomers and (b) from 0.001 to 5 mol %, based on the monomers (a), of monomers comprising at least two polymerizable groups, (c) from 0 to 20 mol %, based on the monomers (a), of water-insoluble monoethylenically unsaturated monomers, where the apparatus comprises at least one screw for conveying the at least one additive and the at least one screw ends in an addition orifice substantially flush with the inner wall of the reactor interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Annemarie Hillebrecht, Uwe Stüven, Leo Van Miert, Dominicus van Esbroeck, Bernd Brian, Siegfried Chszaniecki
  • Publication number: 20120071613
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mixing kneader comprising at least two shafts (2,3) configured as hollow shafts, on whose surfaces kneading bars (4) are disposed on elements (5). The construction of the shafts is selected in such a way that the resonant frequencies of the shafts have a separation of at least 5% from the excitation frequencies. At least one of the shafts is preferably flowed through by a temperature-control medium, the inlet being disposed on one side and the outlet on the other side of the shaft. The mixing kneader preferably comprises at least one orifice above the shafts which is configured as a dome, the dome being closed by a displacer (22). In addition, at least one orifice for product withdrawal is provided, whose orifice cross section is adjustable during operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventors: Uwe Stueven, Leo Van Miert, Dominicus van Esbroeck, Oskar Stephan, Annemarie Hillebrecht, Huanmin Wei
  • Patent number: 8070351
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mixing kneader comprising at least two shafts (2,3) configured as hollow shafts, on whose surfaces kneading bars (4) are disposed on elements (5). The construction of the shafts is selected in such a way that the resonant frequencies of the shafts have a separation of at least 5% from the excitation frequencies. At least one of the shafts is preferably flowed through by a temperature-control medium, the inlet being disposed on one side and the outlet on the other side of the shaft. The mixing kneader preferably comprises at least one orifice above the shafts which is configured as a dome, the dome being closed by a displacer (22). In addition, at least one orifice for product withdrawal is provided, whose orifice cross section is adjustable during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Uwe Stueven, Leo Van Miert, Dominicus van Esbroeck, Oskar Stephan, Annemarie Hillebrecht, Huanmin Wei
  • Patent number: 7947794
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for continuously preparing water-absorbing polymer particles by mixing a monomer solution with a redox initiator consisting of at least one oxidizing agent and at least one reducing agent and polymerizing it, wherein the monomer solution is mixed with at least one oxidizing agent upstream of the polymerization reactor and the at least one reducing agent is metered into the polymerization reactor, and also to an apparatus for performing the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Matthias Weismantel, Michael de Marco, Andreas Daiss, Dominicus van Esbroeck, Karl J. Possemiers, Ronny De Kaey, Leo Van Miert
  • Publication number: 20110098416
    Abstract: A process for continuous thermal postcrosslinking of water-absorbing polymer particles, wherein the postcrosslinker is applied to the water-absorbing polymer particles by means of suitable nozzles and the nozzles are exchanged or cleaned via the interior of a glovebox adjoining the plant section comprising the nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: Oskar Stephan, Karl J. Possemiers, Ann Becker, Leo Van Miert, Ronny De Kaey
  • Patent number: 7915355
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for continuously preparing water-absorbing polymers by mixing a monomer solution with at least one crosslinker and polymerizing the resulting mixture, wherein the residence time of the mixture between the addition of the at least one crosslinker and the entry into the polymerization reactor is less than 180 seconds, and also to an apparatus for performing the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Matthias Weismantel, Michael de Marco, Andreas Daiss, Dominicus van Esbroeck, Karl J. Possemiers, Ronny De Kaey, Leo Van Miert
  • Publication number: 20110034655
    Abstract: A process for producing water-absorbing polymer particles, wherein a polymer gel is removed from a polymerization reactor, stored intermediately as a particulate polymer gel in a delay vessel, removed by means of a first conveying device at the lower end of the delay vessel and dried, the intermediately stored particulate polymer gel being conveyed within the delay vessel by means of at least one second conveying device above the first conveying device in the direction of the first conveying device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventors: Matthias Weismantel, Rüdiger Funk, Ann Becker, Leo Van Miert