Patents by Inventor William Patrick Flanagan

William Patrick Flanagan 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: 6770482
    Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment, the present invention is directed to a method that comprises providing a reaction substrate having a plurality of substrate reservoirs adapted to receive a reactant system at least partially embodied in a liquid. A thermal unit maintains the reactant system at a first temperature. A head plate is disposed adjacent to the reaction substrate to form a sealed and pressurized headspace above the substrate reservoirs. The head plate is maintained at a second temperature higher than the first temperature. A second reactant may be introduced as a gas into the headspace above the plurality of substrate reservoirs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric
    Inventors: William Patrick Flanagan, Roger Neal Johnson, William Guy Morris
  • Patent number: 6710212
    Abstract: A method of producing a chemical reaction is provided. In the practice of one embodiment of the invention, the method includes the steps of providing a reaction vessel and reactants; placing at least one of the reactants in the reaction vessel; and allowing the reaction to proceed for a time interval. A volume increment of at least one of the reactants is withdrawn from the reaction vessel, and a volume increment of at least one of the reactants is added to the reaction vessel. The volume increment withdrawal/addition is repeated after successive time intervals until the reaction reaches a substantially steady state. In various alternative embodiments, the volume increment withdrawal can take place before, after, or contemporaneously with the volume increment addition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William Patrick Flanagan, Cheryl Lynn Sabourin, James Lawrence Spivack
  • Patent number: 6693220
    Abstract: Method for producing multiple chemical reactions and for rapid screening of chemicals, catalysts, process conditions and the like is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing an array of reactor vessels and reactants; loading each reactor vessel with at least one reactant; and allowing the reactions to proceed for a predetermined time interval. A volume increment is withdrawn from each reactor vessel and a volume increment of at least one reactant is added to each reactor vessel in the array. The steps of volume increment withdrawal and addition are repeated after successive time intervals until the reactions reach a substantially steady state. The loading, withdrawal, and addition steps are performed by liquid or solid handling robots. In one embodiment, the volume increment withdrawal occurs before, after, or contemporaneously with the volume increment addition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William Patrick Flanagan, James Lawrence Spivack, Cheryl Lynn Sabourin
  • Patent number: 6572828
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for rapid screening of potential reactants, catalysts, or associated process conditions. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of providing a reaction substrate having at least one substrate reservoir and introducing a reactant system at least partially embodied in a liquid into the substrate reservoirs. The reactant system is heated to at least one predetermined temperature. A flow of inert gas is provided through a manifold above the substrate reservoir. The reaction in the substrate reservoir can be monitored, e.g., visually or spectrophotometrically during the course of the reaction, or the reaction substrate block can be rapidly cooled to stop the reaction in the substrate reservoir prior to analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Radislav Alexandrovich Potyrailo, John Patrick Lemmon, William Patrick Flanagan, Roger Neal Johnson
  • Publication number: 20030055295
    Abstract: Method for producing multiple chemical reactions and for rapid screening of chemicals, catalysts, process conditions and the like is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing an array of reactor vessels and reactants; loading each reactor vessel with at least one reactant; and allowing the reactions to proceed for a predetermined time interval. A volume increment is withdrawn from each reactor vessel and a volume increment of at least one reactant is added to each reactor vessel in the array. The steps of volume increment withdrawal and addition are repeated after successive time intervals until the reactions reach a substantially steady state. The loading, withdrawal, and addition steps are performed by liquid or solid handling robots. In one embodiment, the volume increment withdrawal occurs before, after, or contemporaneously with the volume increment addition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Publication date: March 20, 2003
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William Patrick Flanagan, James Lawrence Spivack, Cheryl Lynn Sabourin
  • Publication number: 20030045758
    Abstract: A method of producing a chemical reaction is provided. In the practice of one embodiment of the invention, the method includes the steps of providing a reaction vessel and reactants; placing at least one of the reactants in the reaction vessel; and allowing the reaction to proceed for a time interval. A volume increment of at least one of the reactants is withdrawn from the reaction vessel, and a volume increment of at least one of the reactants is added to the reaction vessel. The volume increment withdrawal/addition is repeated after successive time intervals until the reaction reaches a substantially steady state. In various alternative embodiments, the volume increment withdrawal can take place before, after, or contemporaneously with the volume increment addition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William Patrick Flanagan, Cheryl Lynn Sabourin, James Lawrence Spivack
  • Publication number: 20020007093
    Abstract: Method for producing multiple chemical reactions and for rapid screening of chemicals, catalysts, process conditions and the like is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing an array of reactor vessels and reactants; loading each reactor vessel with at least one reactant; and allowing the reactions to proceed for a predetermined time interval. A volume increment is withdrawn from each reactor vessel and a volume increment of at least one reactant is added to each reactor vessel in the array. The steps of volume increment withdrawal and addition are repeated after successive time intervals until the reactions reach a substantially steady state. The loading, withdrawal, and addition steps are performed by liquid or solid handling robots. In one embodiment, the volume increment withdrawal occurs before, after, or contemporaneously with the volume increment addition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2000
    Publication date: January 17, 2002
    Inventors: William Patrick Flanagan, James Lawrence Spivack, Cheryl Lynn Sabourin