Patents by Inventor Robert J. Geertsen
Robert J. Geertsen 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).
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Publication number: 20200240013Abstract: An apparatus for producing particles or material-coated particles by decomposition of precursor gas in a stirred or mixed particle bed comprises a reactor vessel, an actuator assembly comprising a shaft disposed at least partially within the reactor vessel, and an actuator element coupled to the shaft and rotatable therewith. The apparatus further comprises a precursor gas supply in fluid communication with the actuator assembly. The actuator assembly is configured to circulate seed particles of a seed particle bed in the reactor vessel with the actuator element, and to introduce precursor gas from the gas supply to the seed particle bed, when seed particles are received in the reactor vessel.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2020Publication date: July 30, 2020Applicant: REC Silicon IncInventor: Robert J. Geertsen
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Publication number: 20200048007Abstract: A feeder operable to convey a divided solids material comprises a conduit and an actuator. The conduit has a hollow body with a length, a first end, a second end opposite the first end and a displaceable body segment defined along at least a portion of the length. The displaceable body segment has at least a first fixable location positionable at a first fixed location. The actuator is positioned to apply force to the conduit and is controllable to cause selected flow of divided solids material in a feed direction extending generally from the first end to the second end. Methods are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2017Publication date: February 13, 2020Applicant: REC Silicon IncInventor: Robert J. Geertsen
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Patent number: 10407310Abstract: This disclosure concerns embodiments of an annealing device and a method for annealing flowable, finely divided solids, such as annealing granular silicon to reduce a hydrogen content of the granular silicon. The annealing device comprises at least one tube through which flowable, finely divided solids are flowed downwardly. The tube includes a heating zone and (i) a residence zone below the heating zone, (ii) a cooling zone below the heating zone, or (iii) a residence zone below the heating zone and a cooling zone below the residence zone. An inert gas is flowed upwardly through the tube. The tube may be constructed from two or more tube segments. The annealing device may include a plurality of tubes arranged and housed within a shell. The annealing device and method are suitable for a continuous process.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2017Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: REC Silicon IncInventors: Robert J. Geertsen, Matthew J. Miller, Justin Johnston, Stein Julsrud, Sefa Yilmaz
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Patent number: 10287171Abstract: Methods and apparatus for separating polysilicon powder from a mixture of granular polysilicon and polysilicon powder are disclosed. The method includes tumbling the polysilicon material in a tumbling device while flowing humidified sweep gas through the tumbling device. Also disclosed are compositions including granulate polysilicon or polycrystalline silicon, in some examples, including a coating layer consisting essentially of water.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2016Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignee: REC Silicon IncInventor: Robert J. Geertsen
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Publication number: 20180265365Abstract: Methods and apparatus for separating polysilicon powder from a mixture of granular polysilicon and polysilicon powder are disclosed. The method includes tumbling the polysilicon material in a tumbling device while flowing humidified sweep gas through the tumbling device. Also disclosed are compositions including granulate polysilicon or polycrystalline silicon, in some examples, including a coating layer consisting essentially of water.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 17, 2018Publication date: September 20, 2018Inventor: Robert J. Geertsen
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Patent number: 10040637Abstract: An oscillatory feeder operable to convey a flowable solid material has a tubular body and a displaceable body segment. The tubular body has at least one first end, at least one second end opposite the first end and a displaceable body segment between the first and second ends. The displaceable body segment has a first fixable location positionable at a first fixed location and a second fixable location positionable at a second fixed location. The actuator is attached to the displaceable body segment and controllable to cause selected displacement of the body segment and attached actuator and corresponding selected flow of solid material within the displaceable body segment in a feed direction extending generally from the first end to the second end.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2016Date of Patent: August 7, 2018Assignee: REC Silicon IncInventor: Robert J. Geertsen
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Publication number: 20180208470Abstract: This disclosure concerns embodiments of an annealing device and a method for annealing flowable, finely divided solids, such as annealing granular silicon to reduce a hydrogen content of the granular silicon. The annealing device comprises at least one tube through which flowable, finely divided solids are flowed downwardly. The tube includes a heating zone and (i) a residence zone below the heating zone, (ii) a cooling zone below the heating zone, or (iii) a residence zone below the heating zone and a cooling zone below the residence zone. An inert gas is flowed upwardly through the tube. The tube may be constructed from two or more tube segments. The annealing device may include a plurality of tubes arranged and housed within a shell. The annealing device and method are suitable for a continuous process.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2017Publication date: July 26, 2018Applicant: REC Silicon IncInventors: Matthew J. Miller, Robert J. Geertsen, Justin Johnston, Stein Julsrud, Sefa Yilmaz
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Publication number: 20180213603Abstract: This disclosure concerns embodiments of an annealing device and a method for annealing granular silicon to reduce a hydrogen content of the granular silicon. The annealing device comprises at least one tube through which granular silicon is flowed downwardly. The tube includes a heating zone and (i) a residence zone below the heating zone, (ii) a cooling zone below the heating zone, or (iii) a residence zone below the heating zone and a cooling zone below the residence zone. An inert gas is flowed upwardly through the tube. The tube may be constructed from two or more tube segments. The annealing device may include a plurality of tubes arranged in parallel and housed within a shell. The annealing device and method are suitable for a continuous process.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2017Publication date: July 26, 2018Applicant: REC Silicon IncInventors: Matthew J. Miller, Robert J. Geertsen, Stein Julsrud, Sefa Yilmaz, Raymond Desbordes
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Publication number: 20180208472Abstract: This disclosure concerns embodiments of an annealing device and a method for annealing granular silicon to reduce a hydrogen content of the granular silicon. The annealing device comprises at least one tube through which granular silicon is flowed downwardly. The tube includes a heating zone and (i) a residence zone below the heating zone, (ii) a cooling zone below the heating zone, or (iii) a residence zone below the heating zone and a cooling zone below the residence zone. An inert gas is flowed upwardly through the tube. The tube may be constructed from two or more tube segments. The annealing device may include a plurality of tubes arranged in parallel and housed within a shell. The annealing device and method are suitable for a continuous process.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2017Publication date: July 26, 2018Applicant: REC Silicon IncInventors: Robert J. Geertsen, Matthew J. Miller, Justin Johnston, Sefa Yilmaz, Stein Julsrud
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Publication number: 20180208471Abstract: This disclosure concerns embodiments of an annealing device and a method for annealing flowable, finely divided solids, such as annealing granular silicon to reduce a hydrogen content of the granular silicon. The annealing device comprises at least one tube through which flowable, finely divided solids are flowed downwardly. The tube includes a heating zone and (i) a residence zone below the heating zone, (ii) a cooling zone below the heating zone, or (iii) a residence zone below the heating zone and a cooling zone below the residence zone. An inert gas is flowed upwardly through the tube. The tube may be constructed from two or more tube segments. The annealing device may include a plurality of tubes arranged and housed within a shell. The annealing device and method are suitable for a continuous process.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2017Publication date: July 26, 2018Applicant: REC Silicon IncInventors: Robert J. Geertsen, Matthew J. Miller, Justin Johnston, Stein Julsrud, Sefa Yilmaz
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Publication number: 20180111764Abstract: An oscillatory feeder operable to convey a flowable solid material has a tubular body and a displaceable body segment. The tubular body has at least one first end, at least one second end opposite the first end and a displaceable body segment between the first and second ends. The displaceable body segment has a first fixable location positionable at a first fixed location and a second fixable location positionable at a second fixed location. The actuator is attached to the displaceable body segment and controllable to cause selected displacement of the body segment and attached actuator and corresponding selected flow of solid material within the displaceable body segment in a feed direction extending generally from the first end to the second end.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2016Publication date: April 26, 2018Applicant: REC Silicon IncInventor: Robert J. Geertsen
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Publication number: 20170320745Abstract: Methods and apparatus for separating polysilicon powder from a mixture of granular polysilicon and polysilicon powder are disclosed. The method includes tumbling the polysilicon material in a tumbling device while flowing humidified sweep gas through the tumbling device. Also disclosed are compositions including granulate polysilicon or polycrystalline silicon, in some examples, including a coating layer consisting essentially of water.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2016Publication date: November 9, 2017Inventor: Robert J. Geertsen
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Patent number: 9682404Abstract: Fine particulate material is separated from a mixture of coarse particulate material and fine particulate material by passing sweep gas through the chamber of a rotating tumbler drum that contains an introduced material that is a mixture of coarse particulate material and fine particulate material. In particular, polysilicon powder may be separated from granular polysilicon. Seals are present, at locations where gas-conveying parts of the apparatus move relative to one another, to block the escape of sweep gas to the atmosphere surrounding the apparatus. A downstream seal extends between a stationary exhaust duct and an exhaust tube that rotates with the tumbler drum. The seal is protected by a flow of clean flush gas that is delivered to a gap between the exhaust duct and the exhaust tube.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2016Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: REC Silicon IncInventor: Robert J. Geertsen
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Patent number: 9440262Abstract: Methods and apparatus for separating polysilicon powder from a mixture of granular polysilicon and polysilicon powder are disclosed. The method includes tumbling the polysilicon material in a tumbling device. The tumbling device includes a tumbler drum having one or more lifting vanes spaced apart from one another and extending longitudinally along an interior surface of the tumbler drum. The lifting vanes facilitate separation of polysilicon powder and granules as the tumbler drum is rotated about its longitudinal axis of rotation.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2014Date of Patent: September 13, 2016Assignee: REC Silicon IncInventor: Robert J. Geertsen
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Publication number: 20160129478Abstract: Methods and apparatus for separating polysilicon powder from a mixture of granular polysilicon and polysilicon powder are disclosed. The method includes tumbling the polysilicon material in a tumbling device. The tumbling device includes a tumbler drum having one or more lifting vanes spaced apart from one another and extending longitudinally along an interior surface of the tumbler drum. The lifting vanes facilitate separation of polysilicon powder and granules as the tumbler drum is rotated about its longitudinal axis of rotation.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2014Publication date: May 12, 2016Applicant: REC SILICON INCInventor: Robert J. Geertsen
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Patent number: 9023425Abstract: Fluidized bed reactor systems for producing high purity silicon-coated particles are disclosed. A vessel has an outer wall, an insulation layer inwardly of the outer wall, at least one heater positioned inwardly of the insulation layer, a removable concentric liner inwardly of the heater, a central inlet nozzle, a plurality of fluidization nozzles, at least one cooling gas nozzle, and at least one product outlet. The system may include a removable concentric sleeve inwardly of the liner. In particular systems the central inlet nozzle is configured to produce a primary gas vertical plume centrally in the reactor chamber to minimize silicon deposition on reactor surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2010Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: REC Silicon IncInventors: E. Wayne Osborne, Michael V. Spangler, Levi C. Allen, Robert J. Geertsen, Paul E. Ege, Walter J. Stupin, Gerald Zeininger
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Publication number: 20150104369Abstract: A method and system for reduction or mitigation of metal contamination of polycrystalline silicon are disclosed. A conveyance device comprising a flexible synthetic resin tube having an inner surface at least partially coated with an inner layer comprising elastomeric microcellular polyurethane is disclosed for use in fluidized bed reactor operations associated with manufacture and product handling procedures for ultra pure granular polysilicon. Use of the conduit to effect passage of the polysilicon mitigates foreign metal contact contamination from sources otherwise typically present in such manufacturing units.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 11, 2013Publication date: April 16, 2015Inventor: Robert J. Geertsen
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Publication number: 20140131246Abstract: The present disclosure concerns reduction or mitigation of metal-contamination of polycrystalline silicon when held or stored in containers at least partially constructed of metal and/or having polysilicon contact surfaces at least partially of metal. In particular, the disclosure relates to a method of mitigating metal contamination of polycrystalline silicon from contact with a metal surface of a container by providing the surface with a protective layer comprising a microcellular elastomeric polyurethane.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2013Publication date: May 15, 2014Inventors: Robert J. Geertsen, Robert M. Davidson
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Publication number: 20140023578Abstract: A method and system for reduction or mitigation of metal contamination of polycrystalline silicon are disclosed. Metal contamination of granulate polycrystalline silicon, from contact with a metal surface of components of the supporting transportation and auxiliary infrastructure of a fluidized bed reactor unit, is mitigated by use of a protective coating comprising a microcellular elastomeric polyurethane.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2013Publication date: January 23, 2014Applicant: REC Silicon IncInventor: Robert J. Geertsen
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Publication number: 20120263874Abstract: Fluidized bed reactor systems for producing high purity silicon-coated particles are disclosed. A vessel has an outer wall, an insulation layer inwardly of the outer wall, at least one heater positioned inwardly of the insulation layer, a removable concentric liner inwardly of the heater, a central inlet nozzle, a plurality of fluidization nozzles, at least one cooling gas nozzle, and at least one product outlet. The system may include a removable concentric sleeve inwardly of the liner. In particular systems the central inlet nozzle is configured to produce a primary gas vertical plume centrally in the reactor chamber to minimize silicon deposition on reactor surfaces.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2010Publication date: October 18, 2012Inventors: E. Wayne Osborne, Michael V. Spangler, Levic C. Allen, Robert J. Geertsen, Paul E. Ege, Walter J. Stupin, Gerald Zeininger