Patents by Inventor Thomas Keene

Thomas Keene 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: 11912589
    Abstract: Photochemical energy conversion is more efficient when a single light-absorbing unit is split into multiple light-absorbing units (N) that are each 1/N as thick as the single light-absorbing unit and thus use the same amount of material as the single light-absorbing unit. For electrocatalytic parameters relevant to water electrolysis, the maximum efficiency for solar-to-fuel conversion from a 1.75 eV bandgap material increases from approximately 1% for a single light-absorbing unit to greater than 20% for 128 identical stacked light-absorbing units. Alterations in utilization of photons results in a better match of the light-absorber power output to the load of the chemical transformation and in the case of high-quality light-absorbers there is an added benefit from radiative coupling between the light-absorbing units via photon recycling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Shane Ardo, Samuel Thomas Keene, Gabriel S. Phun
  • Publication number: 20220348836
    Abstract: A fuel pellet has a body made from a mixture of (a) 1-99 weight percent hemp byproduct, kenaf byproduct or a combination thereof and (b) 1-99 weight percent coal fines. A related method of making a fuel pellet includes the steps of: (1) mixing together (a) a hemp byproduct, a kenaf byproduct or a hemp byproduct and a kenaf byproduct and (b) coal fines to form a pelleting mixture; and (2) compressing or extruding the pelleting mixture and forming the fuel pellet in the absence of any added binder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas Keene, Darrell Neal Taulbee
  • Patent number: 11414614
    Abstract: A fuel pellet includes a pellet body made from a mixture of (a) hemp byproduct, kenaf byproduct or hemp and kenaf byproduct, (b) sawdust and, optionally, (c) coal fines. The fuel pellet may be made without adding a binder. A method of making the binderless fuel pellet is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: University of Kentucky Research Foundation
    Inventors: Thomas Keene, Darrell Neal Taulbee
  • Publication number: 20210034318
    Abstract: Virtual reality engines are discussed that configured to control, at a physical display system, display a shared volume in a virtual workspace, display a shared virtual work object at the virtual workspace, and capture expressive actions. Such virtual reality engine and a display system may be included in a shared workspace computing system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Publication date: February 4, 2021
    Inventors: John Goodman, David Levon Swanson, Thomas Keene
  • Publication number: 20200325409
    Abstract: A fuel pellet includes a pellet body made from a mixture of (a) hemp byproduct, kenaf byproduct or hemp and kenaf byproduct, (b) sawdust and, optionally, (c) coal fines. The fuel pellet may be made without adding a binder. A method of making the binderless fuel pellet is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas Keene, Darrell Neal Taulbee
  • Publication number: 20200140293
    Abstract: Photochemical energy conversion is more efficient when a single light-absorbing unit is split into multiple light-absorbing units (N) that are each 1/N as thick as the single light-absorbing unit and thus use the same amount of material as the single light-absorbing unit. For electrocatalytic parameters relevant to water electrolysis, the maximum efficiency for solar-to-fuel conversion from a 1.75 eV bandgap material increases from approximately 1% for a single light-absorbing unit to greater than 20% for 128 identical stacked light-absorbing units. Alterations in utilization of photons results in a better match of the light-absorber power output to the load of the chemical transformation and in the case of high-quality light-absorbers there is an added benefit from radiative coupling between the light-absorbing units via photon recycling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Shane Ardo, Samuel Thomas Keene, Gabriel S. Phun
  • Patent number: 7866393
    Abstract: Methods are provided that include a method of reducing fluid loss in a subterranean formation comprising placing a lost circulation composition comprising a base fluid and a swellable elastomer in at least a portion of a subterranean formation comprising a lost circulation zone; allowing the swellable elastomer to at least partially swell upon contact with a fluid; and allowing the lost circulation composition to at least partially reduce the loss of fluid to the subterranean formation. Additional methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony M. Badalamenti, Ashok K. Santra, John R. Podowski, Krishna M. Ravi, Gary Thomas Keene
  • Publication number: 20100218949
    Abstract: Methods are provided that include a method of reducing fluid loss in a subterranean formation comprising placing a lost circulation composition comprising a base fluid and a swellable elastomer in at least a portion of a subterranean formation comprising a lost circulation zone; allowing the swellable elastomer to at least partially swell upon contact with a fluid; and allowing the lost circulation composition to at least partially reduce the loss of fluid to the subterranean formation. Additional methods are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventors: Anthony M. Badalamenti, Ashok K. Santra, John R. Podowski, Krishna M. Ravi, Gary Thomas Keene
  • Patent number: 7717180
    Abstract: Methods are provided that include a method of reducing fluid loss in a subterranean formation comprising placing a lost circulation composition comprising a base fluid and a swellable elastomer in at least a portion of a subterranean formation comprising a lost circulation zone; allowing the swellable elastomer to at least partially swell upon contact with a fluid; and allowing the lost circulation composition to at least partially reduce the loss of fluid to the subterranean formation. Additional methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony M. Badalamenti, Ashok K. Santra, John R. Podowski, Krishna M. Ravi, Gary Thomas Keene
  • Patent number: 4543096
    Abstract: An eyedrop dispenser is disclosed which includes a plastic squeeze bottle having a dispensing nozzle at one end. A collar overfits the dispenser end of the bottle and carries a pair of cooperating, forwardly extending fingers for eyelid contacting purposes. The fingers terminate forwardly in respective eyelid contactors and one finger is pivotally movable relative to the other to spread the eyelid contactors during the eyedrop dispensing process. The movable finger includes an operator extension which engages the bottle sidewall when the eyelid contactors are separated to squeeze the bottle and dispense the eyedrops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1985
    Inventor: Thomas Keene