Patents Assigned to FMC
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Patent number: 6228335Abstract: A process for the production of soda ash by withdrawing an aqueous mining solution containing dissolved sodium carbonate and at least about 1 wt % sodium bicarbonate from an underground alkali source; stripping CO2 gas from the withdrawn aqueous mining solution, to convert sodium bicarbonate dissolved therein to sodium carbonate; co-crystallizing sodium carbonate monohydrate and sodium sesquicarbonate by evaporation of water from the CO2-stripped aqueous mining solution, without co-crystallization of anhydrous sodium carbonate, to form a slurry of crystalline solids in an aqueous liquor; recovering crystalline solids from the slurry; and calcining the recovered crystalline solids to produce soda ash.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 1997Date of Patent: May 8, 2001Assignee: FMC Wyoming CorporationInventors: William C. Copenhafer, David E. Smith
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Patent number: 6221991Abstract: Polar polymers having the following formula: FG-(Q)d-Rn-Z-J-[A(R1R2R3)]x (I) wherein FG is H or a protected or non-protected functional group; Q is a polar hydrocarbyl group derived by incorporation of a polar compound selected from group consisting of esters, amides, and nitrites of acrylic and methacrylic acid, and mixtures thereof; d is an integer from 10 to 2000; R is a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbyl group derived by incorporation of a compound selected from the group consisting of conjugated diene hydrocarbons, alkenylsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbons, and mixtures thereof; n is an integer from 0 to 5; Z is a branched or straight chain hydrocarbon group which contains 3-25 carbon atoms, optionally containing aryl or substituted aryl groups; J is oxygen, sulfur, or nitrogen; [A(R1R2R3)]x is a protecting group, in which A is an element selected from Group IVa of the Periodic Table of Elements; R1, R2, and R3 are each independently selected from the group consistingType: GrantFiled: June 30, 1998Date of Patent: April 24, 2001Assignee: FMC CorporationInventors: Robert J. Letchford, James A. Schwindeman, Conrad W. Kamienski, Roderic P. Quirk
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Patent number: 6219961Abstract: Arthropod containment devices are provided comprising a base plate having a first face, a second face opposite the first face, an outer edge between the first face and the second face; and a containment ridge protruding from the first face along at least a portion of the outer edge, the containment ridge defining a containment region proximate the first face. Also provided are arthropod containment devices comprising a base plate having a first face and a second face opposite the first face, a plurality of guide ridges that protrude from the first face and define at least one containment region, and an arthropod toxicant coated upon or positioned within the containment region.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 1998Date of Patent: April 24, 2001Assignee: FMC CorporationInventors: James B. Ballard, Barry Schwartz, Richard C. Lewis
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Patent number: 6218048Abstract: The present invention includes a method of preparing secondary lithium and lithium-ion batteries with improved coulombic efficiency, improved cycling and storage performance at elevated temperatures, and lower rates of transition metal dissolution. In accordance with the present invention, the positive electrode material is thermally treated at a temperature of between 50° C. and 120° C. to produce a passivating film having lithium ion conductivity. The present invention also includes a secondary lithium or lithium-ion cell having positive electrode material covered with a thermally-activated thin passivating film having lithium ion conductivity and a positive electrode material formed of particles of a lithium intercalation compound with a passivating film on the surface of the particles.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 1999Date of Patent: April 17, 2001Assignee: FMC CorporationInventors: Vesselin Manev, Titus Faulkner, D. Wayne Barnette, John Francis Engel
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Patent number: 6218339Abstract: The present invention provides an herbicidal formulation that is composed of an aqueous liquid having suspended therein a multitude of microcapsules having a capsule wall of a porous polymer encapsulating a solution of clomazone, and suitable concentrations of fat in the absence of a resin, or a resin in the absence of a fat, or both fat and resin. Preferably, if included, the fat is at least 95% saturated.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2000Date of Patent: April 17, 2001Assignee: FMC CorporationInventors: John M. Becker, Janos Szamosi, Hylsa E. Garcia
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Patent number: 6218545Abstract: A process for the preparation of a compound of the Formula I wherein the process comprising the step of treating a compound of the Formula II with a fluorinating agent at a temperature of about 60° to about 120° C. in the presence of an organic solvent to form a compound of the Formula I; wherein: X, R or R′ can optionally be independently protected with a protecting group which is substantially stable to the fluorinating agent; and where X, R, and R′ are described herein.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 1999Date of Patent: April 17, 2001Assignee: FMC CorporationInventor: Jaidev Goudar
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Patent number: 6214845Abstract: Compounds of the following structure, the corresponding N-oxides and agriculturally acceptable salts, are disclosed as effective insecticides: in which U is —(CH2)n—; Q is hydroxy; R is in which V, W, Y, and Z are each hydrogen; X is a five- or six-membered heterocycle; optionally substituted with halogen, cyano, alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, alkoxyalkyl, haloalkoxyalkyl, or aminocarbonyl; and the heterocycle is optionally connected to the phenyl ring through a —O—, —S—, —(CH2)p, —C(O)—, or —O—(CR3R4)q linkage; R1 and R2 are independently selected from phenyl or pyridyl substituted with haloalkyl or haloalkoxy; R3 and R4 are independently selected from hydrogen and methyl; n and p are independently 1, 2, or 3; and q is 1 or 2; with the proviso that at least one of R1 and R2 is substituted in the para position; no more than two of R3 and R4 are methyl; each aliphatic moiety contains not more tType: GrantFiled: September 2, 1999Date of Patent: April 10, 2001Assignee: FMC CorporationInventors: Ian R. Silverman, Daniel H. Cohen, John W. Lyga, Steven W. Szczepanski, Syed F. Ali, Thomas G. Cullen, Robert N. Henrie, II, Clinton J. Peake
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Patent number: 6214398Abstract: A servo driven peach pitter mechanism with a servo motor (100) for a gripper mechanism head assembly (60) and a servo motor (118) for a selective knife (56), to achieve unlimited control flexibility in rotation of gripper mechanisms (62) and selective knife (56). Servo motor (100) controls rotation of a tubular housing (69) of the head assembly (60), which in turn rotates the gripper mechanism (62). Servo motor (118) includes a 90 degree gear box (114) which connects with a spindle (112) that carries the selective knife (56).Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 1999Date of Patent: April 10, 2001Assignee: FMC CorporationInventors: Joost Veltman, Stanley Groom, Westley W. Walter
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Patent number: 6209823Abstract: An apparatus for deicing includes a vehicle frame, such as part of a truck, and a boom having one end mounted on the vehicle frame and a free end. A compressor unit is supported by the boom and includes a compressor having an air outlet. A deicer air jet nozzle is located at the free end of the boom and operatively coupled to the air outlet of the compressor for receiving air and discharging the air for a deicer application.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 1999Date of Patent: April 3, 2001Assignee: FMC CorporationInventor: Clifton L. Foster
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Patent number: 6202832Abstract: A vibratory conveying apparatus includes a trough operatively associated with a vibratory drive assembly for conveying pieces along the trough. The vibratory drive assembly includes a base member and a vibratory drive mounted to the base member. The trough is operatively associated with the vibratory drive to be driven into vibration substantially longitudinally with respect to the base member. First and second flexure members or bars extend longitudinally of the base member on opposite lateral sides of the base member, the bars connected at base ends to the base member. At least one leaf spring extends laterally across the base member, the leaf spring connected at opposite ends to distal ends of the bars and operatively connected at a center thereof to the trough. The flexure members provide increased flexibility at the leaf spring connections to increase useful spring life.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 1999Date of Patent: March 20, 2001Assignee: FMC CorporationInventor: Leonard Evansic
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Patent number: 6201330Abstract: A spring coefficient adjustment system for a vibratory drive for use in driving a vibratory delivery apparatus. The drive includes an electromagnet and an associated armature spaced apart by a gap. In the drive, a plate is movable with respect to a frame. One of the electromagnet and the armature is connected to the frame and the respective other is connected to the spring plate. A primary spring is connected between the frame and the spring plate. A plurality of auxiliary elastomer shear springs are selectively engageable between the frame and the plate to change the total spring coefficient between the frame and the plate.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2000Date of Patent: March 13, 2001Assignee: FMC CorporationInventor: Harold E. Patterson
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Patent number: 6195826Abstract: An engagement structure adapted for securement to the end of an aircraft boarding bridge includes a bumper assembly formed of a first bumper and an auxiliary bumper. The auxiliary bumper is mechanically associated with a drive assembly adapted for displacing the auxiliary bumper relative to the first bumper to provide a dimensionally adjustable floor area of a boarding bridge proximate the interface of the bridge and an aircraft serviced by the bridge. The engagement structure may also include bifurcated arrangement wherein a sliding floor element is associated with a length adjustable bumper subassembly. The engagement structure provides a structure whereby the floor structure of the boarding bridge can be opened to provide a passageway for an opening or closing aircraft door.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 1999Date of Patent: March 6, 2001Assignee: FMC CorporationInventors: Gerald J. LeBaron, Bruce W. Anderson
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Patent number: 6195934Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for controlling termites. The invention provides a tamper resistant bait station, which uses a cellulose bait impregnated with a slow acting toxicant and readily allows entry of termite.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 1999Date of Patent: March 6, 2001Assignee: FMC CorporationInventors: William Francis Megargle, John Ernest Milliner, Michael Dea Andis, P. David Simcox, James Bruce Ballard
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Patent number: 6197891Abstract: A process for the preparation of hydrocarbon solutions of monofunctional ether initiators of the following general structure: M—Qn—Z—O—[A(R1R2R3)] wherein M is an alkali metal selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium and potassium; Q is a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbyl group derived by incorporation of a compound selected from the group consisting of conjugated diene hydrocarbons, alkenylsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbons, and mixtures thereof into the M—Z linkage; Z is a branched or straight chain hydrocarbon group which contains 3-25 carbon atoms, optionally containing aryl or substituted aryl groups; A is an element selected from carbon and silicon; R1, R2, and R3 are independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, substituted alkyl groups containing lower alkyl, lower alkylthio, and lower dialkylamino groups, aryl or substituted aryl groups containing lower alkyl, lower alkylthio, and lower dialkylamino groups, and n is an integer from 1 to 5, monofType: GrantFiled: September 26, 1996Date of Patent: March 6, 2001Assignee: FMC CorporationInventors: James Anthony Schwindeman, Eric John Granger, Robert Charles Morrison, Conrad William Kamienski, Robert James Letchford
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Patent number: 6194617Abstract: A process for quickly preparing easily separable solutions of lithium tertiary-alkoxides. Comprising the steps of reacting lithium metal in bulk solid form, containing less than 0.1% by weight of sodium, with a tertiary alcohol in mole ratios of metal to alcohol ranging from 2 to 1 to 10 to 1 in a solvent selected from ethereal or hydrocarbon solvents under an inert atmosphere at elevated temperature for 1 to 10 hours, cooling the product and separating the product solution from the unreacted lithium metal in the reactor, and optionally adding solvent and sufficient lithium metal and alcohol to said unreacted metal in said reactor to maintain said mole ratio of lithium metal to alcohol, and continuing the reaction, thereby to form further lithium tert-alkoxide, and repeating said steps a number of times.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 1996Date of Patent: February 27, 2001Assignee: FMC CorporationInventors: Robert C. Morrison, Conrad W. Kamienski, James A. Schwindeman
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Patent number: 6194015Abstract: Apparatus and methods for transferring heat between a heat transfer liquid and a plurality of moving containers of food product. The containers are conveyed by a perforated conveyor at least partially submerged in a pool of the heat transfer liquid and are showered at the same time with the heat transfer liquid. The pool of heat transfer liquid continuously drains and recirculates through either a heater or a chiller. A vibrator unit vibrates the pool of heat transfer liquid, the conveyor and the containers during the heat transfer operation.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 1999Date of Patent: February 27, 2001Assignee: FMC CorporationInventor: Robert A. Garrett
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Patent number: 6194583Abstract: A process for preparing an alkyl &agr;-2-chloro-5-[4-(difluoromethyl)-4,5-dihydro-3-methyl-5-oxo-1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl]-2,4-substituted-benzene-propanoate herbicide, by reacting an alkyl &agr;-acetyl-5-[4-(difluoromethyl)4,5-dihydro-3-methyl-5-oxo-1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl]-2,4-disubstituted-benzene-propanoate, Intermediate D, first with sodium hypochlorite, then with a base, and recovering the herbicide. Intermediate D is prepared by reacting a 1-(2, 4-disubstituted-5-halophenyl)-4-difluoromethyl-4,5-dihydro-3-methyl-5-oxo-1H-1,2,4-triazole, Intermediate B, with an alkyl alkanoate in the presence of a palladium catalyst and a tertiary amine. Intermediate B is prepared by reacting a 1-(2,4-disubstituted-phenyl)-4-difluoromethyl-4,5-dihydro-3-methyl-5-oxo-1H-1,2,4-triazole with a halogenating agent in the presence of an acid. The 2,4-substituents are independently selected from halo, alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxy, nitro, or hetercyclyl.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2000Date of Patent: February 27, 2001Assignee: FMC CorporationInventors: Gerard A. Crispino, Jaidev S. Goudar
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Patent number: 6187293Abstract: This invention pertains to a process for increasing by at least about 100% the viscosity of a carrageenan-containing dentifrice composition that comprises allowing the composition to quiescently cool from a temperature at or above about 45° C. The process may be applied to making toothpastes having suitable viscosity using carrageenan levels as low as about 0.05 weight percent. The dentifrice compositions are comprised of one or more of the following carrageenans: iota, modified kappa, or mixtures thereof. Toothpastes prepared using this method are easier to process and require much less carrageenan relative to similar viscosity toothpastes prepared by previous methods. This invention also pertains to certain toothpaste compositions having low levels of carrageenan including those made according to this process.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 1999Date of Patent: February 13, 2001Assignee: FMC CorporationInventor: Arthur D. Ballard
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Patent number: 6187328Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for detecting and controlling termites. The invention uses a tubular body with a triangular cross section to hold a cellulose bait impregnated with a slow acting toxicant. The tubular body is placed partly in the ground so that the length of the tubular body is along the surface of the ground. The top of the tubular body is transparent so that one can easily view the bait through the top of the tubular body.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 1999Date of Patent: February 13, 2001Assignee: FMC CorporationInventors: James Bruce Ballard, Elleen Patricia Mc Gorman
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Patent number: D440283Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2000Date of Patent: April 10, 2001Assignee: FMC CorporationInventors: David E. Cain, Taylor L. Jones