Patents Represented by Attorney William T. McClain
  • Patent number: 4921590
    Abstract: A drum cathode for the electrolytic production of metal foil having a current collection yoke of high current carrying capacity which electrically connects each end of the drum to a current collecting hub in the center of the drum. The current collecting hub is positioned on an electrically conducting sleeve over the drum's shaft for conducting the collected current to the exterior of the drum. This permits the electric current to flow through the top sheet of the drum symmetrically to enable the production of foil having a more uniform and symmetrical weight distribution across the width of the drums.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: Yates Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Khalid, David G. Plagge
  • Patent number: 4670104
    Abstract: A process and system is provided to produce and dedust oil from oil shale and other types of solid hydrocarbon-containing material. In the process, raw oil shale is retorted, preferably with solid heat carrier material, to liberate an effluent product stream of hydrocarbons containing entrained particulates of dust derived from the oil shale or other solid hydrocarbon-containing material. A fraction of oil containing most of the dust is separated from the effluent product stream and fed to one or more dedusters. The dust-laden oil is dissolved in a special mixture of dedusting solvents which contains both polar and non-polar dedusting solvents. In the deduster, the dissolved oil is separated into a dedusted stream of oil and solvents and a residual stream of dust-laden sludge. Solvents are recovered from the dedusted stream as well as the sludge. The recovered solvents are recycled to the deduster for use in dedusting the oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1987
    Assignees: Standard Oil Company (Indiana), Gulf Oil Corporation (Pennsylvania)
    Inventor: James L. Taylor
  • Patent number: 4662669
    Abstract: A special spent catalyst container is provided to safely and effectively transport, store, and dispense spent catalyst and residual reactor oil from a resid hydrotreating unit to a reclamation site or disposal area. In order to protect and safeguard the environment, the container is constructed of a catalytically resistant oil-impermeable steel with a special shape and arrangement to prevent spent catalyst and residual reactor oil from the resid hydrotreating unit from spilling, leaking, and accumulating on the nation's highways. The spent catalyst container has a rotatable truncated bin with a support frame to enhance the structural strength and integrity of the bin. The bin has monorail and bridge crane-receiving slots to alternatively receive the grab hooks of a monorail and a bridge crane to facilitate transport by both monorail and the bridge crane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1987
    Assignee: Amoco Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Erickson, Roman T. Plichta, Daniel F. Rajanayakam
  • Patent number: 4654407
    Abstract: Described herein are novel bismaleimides and prepregable resin compositions comprising these bismaleimides and one or more liquid coreactants and optionally, one or more other additives. The novel bismaleimides, such as alpha, alpha-bis-(4-maleimidophenyl)-meta-diisopropylbenzene, are characterized by the presence of three aromatic rings in the molecular structure and in some respects optimize the desirable characteristics of the one or two and four aromatic ring-containing bismaleimides in resins prepared therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1987
    Assignee: Amoco Corporation
    Inventor: Linda A. Domeier
  • Patent number: 4654458
    Abstract: A method for converting a lower molecular weight alkane to synthesis gas to higher molecular weight materials comprising (a) passing a reaction mixture comprising the alkane and air at a pressure of from about 1 to about 50 pounds per square inch gauge through an elongated first reactor packed with a bed of refractory particles having three zones: (1) an upstream zone for heating the mixture, (2) a middle zone wherein alkane and oxygen react exothermically to produce hot CO, H.sub.2, and N.sub.2 and (3) a downstream zone for cooling the hot CO, H.sub.2, and N.sub.2 ; and (b) passing cooled CO, H.sub.2, and N.sub.2 to a reactor packed with Fischer-Tropsch catalyst to form higher molecular weight materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1987
    Assignee: Amoco Corporation
    Inventors: James L. Jezl, Robert F. Blanks, Michael A. Stasi, Imre Puskas
  • Patent number: 4654456
    Abstract: An improved catalyst composition for isomerizing xylene containing a minor amount of ethylbenzene comprising a HAMS-1B crystalline borosilicate molecular sieve incorporated into an inorganic matrix impregnated with a small amount of a phosphorus compound. The catalyst composition when contacted with an ethylbenzene containing xylene under isomerization conditions results in a greater yield of paraxylene and a conversion of ethylbenzene to more useful products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1987
    Assignee: Amoco Corporation
    Inventor: Tayseer S. Nimry
  • Patent number: 4652691
    Abstract: Described is a process for selectively converting xylene in the gas phase with an ethylating agent under hydrocarbon conversion conditions to a highly pure 3,4-dimethylethylbenzene product in the presence of a catalyst composition comprising a metal-ion-modified, crystalline borosilicate molecular sieve in which the metal is intimately associated with the framework silica lattice, composited in an inorganic matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1987
    Assignee: Amoco Corporation
    Inventors: Judith B. Melville, Richard E. Desimone
  • Patent number: 4648523
    Abstract: An improved underground tank assembly is provided for storing motor fuels, such as gasoline or diesel fuel. the underground tank assembly has an expandable bladder-like primary tank positioned within the interior of a rigid secondary tank. Advantageously, the secondary tank meets most safety regulations and secondary containment laws by dependably providing for secondary containment of any leakage of motor fuel from the primary tank. The underground tank assembly has numerous alternative conduit arrangements for ease and flexibility of assembly, installation, and manufacture. The underground tank assembly also desirably has a protective barrier wall for protecting and isolating the conduits from the expanded primary tank. Other safety equipment and controls, such as leakage detectors, are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1987
    Assignee: Standard Oil Company (Indiana)
    Inventor: Dennis J. Strock
  • Patent number: 4649205
    Abstract: A process for the reactivation of a vanadium-phosphorus-oxygen catalyst promoted by metals selected from the group consisting of zinc, molybdenum, niobium, tungsten, uranium, cobalt and tin with alkyl esters of phosphoric acid and water is disclosed. The catalysts are useful for the manufacture of maleic anhydride from butane, butene, butadiene or benzene feedstock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1987
    Assignee: Standard Oil Company (Indiana)
    Inventors: Robert C. Edwards, Carl A. Udovich
  • Patent number: 4647293
    Abstract: An unleaded gasoline in combination with a minor amount of gasoline soluble molybdenum(VI) compound is effective in reducing elevated steady state octane requirement and suppressing octane requirement increase in spark ignition internal combustion engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1987
    Assignees: William H. Magidson, Standard Oil Company (Indiana)
    Inventors: Paul J. Cahill, Larry C. Satek
  • Patent number: 4645584
    Abstract: A feedstock for mesophase pitch is produced by hydrotreating a decant oil until there is from about 2 to about 3 hydrogen atoms per average molecule of the decant oil, and thereafter subjecting the hydrotreated decant oil to distilling to form a pitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1987
    Assignee: Amoco Corporation
    Inventors: Rostislav Didchenko, Irwin C. Lewis
  • Patent number: 4645753
    Abstract: Composition comprising a crystalline aluminum borate and from about 0.05 to 50 wt % at least one compound selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal and alkaline earth metal compound based on the weight of the aluminum borate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1987
    Assignee: Standard Oil Company
    Inventors: Alex Zletz, Larry C. Satek, Jeffrey T. Miller
  • Patent number: 4643958
    Abstract: A quinone imine dye can be used as an electrolyte additive in lithium-sulfur dioxide electrochemical cells to reduce the polarization which is observed during current flow conditions and, in some cases, to improve electrolyte stability and prevent or reduce the possibility of explosion upon abuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Assignee: Amoco Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Thrash, John F. Connolly
  • Patent number: 4643812
    Abstract: The free radical hydrobromination reaction of an olefinic compound is initiated photochemically by irradiating a mixture of hydrogen bromide and the olefinic compound with coherent light having a wavelength in the range from about 335 to about 500 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Assignee: Standard Oil Company (Indiana)
    Inventors: Joshua Zavelovich, K. Virupaksha Reddy
  • Patent number: 4642301
    Abstract: Improved halided alumina catalysts are prepared by first calcining the gamma-alumina catalyst base at a temperature of 1300.degree.-1800.degree. F. The finished catalyst can be employed for olefin polymerization without need for refrigeration to control the exothermic heat of reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1987
    Assignee: Amoco Corporation
    Inventor: David L. Sikkenga
  • Patent number: 4640944
    Abstract: Novel polyamide-imide-phthalamide copolymers containing polyetherimides are disclosed. These copolymers are useful for the manufacture of thin films, molded objects and engineering resins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1987
    Assignee: Standard Oil Company (Indiana)
    Inventor: Gary T. Brooks
  • Patent number: 4640744
    Abstract: Amorphous carbon is an electrocatalytically active material which is useful as an electrode component in electrochemical cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1987
    Assignee: Standard Oil Company (Indiana)
    Inventor: Arthur T. Howe
  • Patent number: 4638044
    Abstract: Described herein is an improved process for preparing poly(aryl ether ketone)s by reacting a mixture of at least one bisphenol and at least one dihalobenzenoid compound or halophenol, wherein the improvement comprises providing to the reaction, a combination of sodium carbonate and/or bicarbonate and an alkali metal halide selected from potassium, rubidium or cesium fluoride or chloride, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1987
    Assignee: Amoco Corporation
    Inventor: Donald R. Kelsey
  • Patent number: 4638098
    Abstract: A process for etherifying phenols comprising reacting phenols at elevated temperature and pressure with a reactant selected from the group consisting of alcohol, ether and mixtures thereof in the presence of a catalyst comprising a sulfated oxide of a Group IIB metal selected from the group consisting of Zn, Cd, Hg and mixtures thereof on a support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1987
    Assignee: Amoco Corporation
    Inventor: Allen B. Mossman
  • Patent number: 4637464
    Abstract: Product yield and quality is increased during in situ retorting of oil shale by pulsed combustion in which the flow of feed gas to the flame front is intermittently stopped while continuously retorting the oil shale. In the process, a water purge is injected into the retort between pulses of feed gas to enhance transfer of sensible heat from the combustion zone to the retorting zone and enlarge the separation between the combustion zone and the advancing front of the retorting zone. Retort water produced during retorting can be used as part of the water purge and/or feed gas for process economy and efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1987
    Assignees: Amoco Corporation, Chevron U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Forgac, George R. Hoekstra