Patents by Inventor Robert Staffin

Robert Staffin 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: 4623400
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for surface coating of workpieces in fluidized beds under atmospheric or slightly higher pressure is disclosed. The process comprises submerging the workpiece(s) in the fluidized bed, mixing a metal halide with an inert gas to form the fluidizing gas, feeding to the fluidized bed another gas which is capable of reacting with the metal halide in the fluidized bed and coating the workpiece(s). The workpiece(s) are maintained at a temperature in the range of from 1600.degree. F. to 2000.degree. F. until it is evenly coated. The apparatus comprises a saturator vessel for saturating the inert gas with the metal halide and a fluid bed reactor. There are several advantages that the present invention offers over the prior art, namely, the coating can be performed in a relatively short period of time, 4 to 5 hours and that atmospheric pressure can be used, eliminating the need for a costly vacuum system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1986
    Assignee: Procedyne Corp.
    Inventors: Joseph E. Japka, Robert Staffin, Swarnjeet S. Bhatia
  • Patent number: 4524957
    Abstract: The present invention involves an apparatus and method for heat treating metal workpieces in chemically controlled environments produced by decomposition of an atmosphere precursor, e.g. methanol or ethyl acetate, introduced to a heated fluidized bed retort as a vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1985
    Assignee: Procedyne Corp.
    Inventors: Robert Staffin, Carol A. Girrell, Mario A. Fronzoni
  • Patent number: 4512821
    Abstract: The present invention involves an apparatus and method for heat treating metal workpieces in chemically controlled environments produced by decomposition of an atmosphere precursor, e.g. methanol or ethyl acetate, introduced to a heated fluidized bed retort as a vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1985
    Assignee: Procedyne Corp.
    Inventors: Robert Staffin, Carol A. Girrell, Mario A. Fronzoni
  • Patent number: 4457788
    Abstract: This invention relates to non-abrasive, lubricative, particulate solids, e.g. graphites, lime, calcium oxides, zinc oxides and compounds of higher saturated fatty acids, particularly, stearate salts, and their methods of use as fluidized bed media for preventing clinging and related carryover problems. Preferably, fluidized bed media, selected in accordance with this invention, have a beneficial effect on subsequent process operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1984
    Assignee: Procedyne Corp.
    Inventors: Herbert K. Staffin, Robert Staffin
  • Patent number: 4161389
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for calcining or heat treating finely divided solids to effect a change in physical and/or chemical properties and, in so doing and prior to exhaust, filtering out particles entrained in the exhaust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1979
    Assignee: Procedyne, Inc.
    Inventors: Herbert K. Staffin, Robert Staffin
  • Patent number: 4068389
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a diffusion plate to partition one space from another and pass a gas through ports in the plate in a flow pattern which is uniform over the area of the partition. Specifically, the disclosure relates to a diffusion plate, sometimes referred to as a distributor plate, having the aforesaid functions in connection with fluidized bed apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1978
    Assignee: Procedyne Corporation
    Inventors: H. Kenneth Staffin, Robert Staffin