Patents Assigned to FMC
  • Patent number: 5861359
    Abstract: Novel herbicidal compounds, compositions containing them, and methods for their use in controling weeds are disclosed. The novel herbicidal compounds are optionally substituted phenylmethoxy or phenylmethylthio heterocycles of the formula: ##STR1## in which Q is selected from: ##STR2## R=halogen; R.sup.1 =lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, lower haloalkyl, lower haloalkoxy, lower alkylthio, lower sulfonyl, or lower alkylsulfinyl; R.sup.2 =lower alkyl, or lower haloalkyl; X=H, halogen, or lower alkyl; W=O or S; Z, Z.sup.1, Z.sup.2 are independently selected from H, halogen, straight or branched chain lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, is lower haloalkoxy, cyano, lower cyanoalkyloxy, or aryl; or Z and Z.sup.1 are adjacent to each other on the benzene ring, and taken together are --(CH.sub.2).sub.4 --; or Z.sup.2 is OA in the 2-, 3-, or 4-position of the phenyl ring; A is a derivative of an alkanoate bonded to the phenoxy oxygen at the alpha carbon; R.sup.3 is H or lower alkyl; R.sup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventor: George Theodoridis
  • Patent number: 5860859
    Abstract: The invention provides an improved method and apparatus for separating fruits, such as tomatoes, from vines. The invention uses feeder bars to provide tomatoes to a shaker brush a first time. The vines are allowed to fall out of the shaker brush to a shaker conveyor. The shaker conveyor conveys the vines into the shaker brush a second time, and then to a vine reel, thus providing an improved separation of tomatoes from the vine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventor: David Jeffrey Meester
  • Patent number: 5858409
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for preparing a spray-dried compressible granular formulation for preparing pharmaceutical tablets in which hydrolyzed cellulose is used as a granulation aid, the resulting granulations, and pharmaceutical tablets compressed from such granules. In these formulations there is employed from 1 to 97% by weight pharmaceutical active, from about 3 to 99% by weight hydrolyzed cellulose, based on the dry weight of the granulation, and optionally conventional granulation and/or tableting additives such as surfactants, disintegrants and antiadherents/flow aids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Marc S. Karetny, David F. Erkoboni, Ronald S. Vladyka, Jr., Howard J. Stamato
  • Patent number: 5855805
    Abstract: The microetching and cleaning of copper clad substrates in printed wiring board production with solutions containing alkali metal persulfate and sulfuric acid is controlled to provide slower and more consistent copper etch rates by the presence of high proportions of alkali metal sulfate or an alkali metal sulfate/bisulfate mixture in the solutions, in a mole ratio of persulfate to sulfate or sulfate/bisulfate mixture of 1:0.1 to 1:10. When bisulfate is present with the sulfate, the sulfate will comprise at least about 10 mole % of the sulfate/bisulfate mixture. A surfactant may be present in the solutions to aid wettability on the copper clad substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventor: Nancy D. Arabinick
  • Patent number: 5850783
    Abstract: An improved drench apparatus for drenching fruit and vegetables with an aqueous chemical solution having a pit for holding a large volume of said solution, drench pump for drawing solution from the pit and discharging it into manifolds equipped with nozzles for drenching the fruit, a recovery system for returning excess solution to the pit; comprising a holding tank for holding a volume of said solution; a heater, including a heater pump, connected to said holding tank and arranged to maintain the temperature of the solution therein; a re-circulation pump connected to draw solution from said pit and direct it to said heater with a conduit connecting said holding tank to said pit. The volume of said holding tank being sufficient to assure portions of the solution are maintained at said temperature for a time to eradicate pathogens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Clint P. Arrington, D. Frank Kelsey
  • Patent number: 5850906
    Abstract: There is provided a differential motion conveyor comprising a trough and a conveyor drive. The conveyor drive comprises a clutch/brake assembly which is selectively activated for moving the trough at a first speed in a first direction and selectively deactivated when moving the trough at a second speed in an opposite direction. There is further provided a method of conveying material comprising sensing a position of a trough, activating a clutch/brake assembly when the trough is at a first position for moving the trough at a first speed in a first direction, and deactivating a clutch/brake assembly when the trough is at a second position for moving the trough at a second faster speed in a second opposite direction to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventor: Arthur L. Dean
  • Patent number: 5849847
    Abstract: Polyalkenylaromatic-polyethylene copolymers are prepared using protected functional organolithium initiators. Polymerization of an alkenylsubstituted aromatic monomer followed by ethylene, results in a protected functional block polystyrene-co-polyethylenyllithium. Termination with a functionalizing agent followed by deprotection produces polymeric products with high functionalization at the initiating chain-end and at least partial functionalization at the terminal chain-end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventor: Roderic P. Quirk
  • Patent number: 5849985
    Abstract: An alkali metal peroxydisulfate or caroate can be used alone or in combination to destroy haloform present in an aqueous system. The destruction results in a reduction in the amount of haloform in the system. In another aspect, uv light and the peroxydisulfate and/or caroate can be used together to destroy the haloform present in the aqueous system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1998
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Robert H. Tieckelmann, Dean S. Thorp, deceased, by Colleen Gagliardi, executor, Gale D. Downey
  • Patent number: 5846324
    Abstract: An apparatus and process for coating food products with seasoning, powder or other dry or granulated material while the food products are rotated in a drum uses a trough which extends into the drum from outside of the drum. The trough provides a plurality of V-shaped channels having intermittently arranged lengthwise slots along low points of the channels for creating curtains of material falling through the slots onto the food products. The trough is vibrated for inducing flow along its length as well as for preventing clogging of material flowing through the slots. Alternately the material can spill over a tapered wall of the trough rather than through slots. A vibrating inlet feeder which provides a screening surface is located upstream of the trough for screening the material before discharge into the trough and eventual discharge into the drum. A controlled screw feeder can be used to limit and regulate flow of material into the inlet feeder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth M. Marshall, Robert A. Krynock
  • Patent number: 5842334
    Abstract: The invention provides a harvester that applies continuous contact between the plant to be harvested and harvesting rails, which thus reduces damage to the plant. The harvester uses a hydraulic system which causes the rails to provide a constant gripping force against the plants when in a float position of the hydraulic system. The system also has a spread setting and may or may not have a third static setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventor: Larry Losli Slates
  • Patent number: 5842816
    Abstract: A pig delivery and transport system shown schematically in FIG. 1 has a looped line generally indicated at (10) divided into three sections (10A), (10B) and (10C). Line section (10A) is a low pressure non-product line section extending from a product receiving facility (PF) or host to an upstream shut-off valve (20). Line section (10B) is a high pressure product line section extending from downstream shut-off valve (22) to host facility (PF) and receives product from wells (W1) and (W2). Intermediate line section (10C) is a connecting line section between shut-off valves (20) and (22) to connect the non-product line section (10A) to the product line section (10B). A pig inserted at host (PF) is transported along low pressure non-product line section (10A) into connecting line section (10C) while upstream shut-off valve (20) is open and vent valve (28) is open in vent line 26.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher E. Cunningham
  • Patent number: 5839512
    Abstract: An adjustable casing hanger comprising a first tubular component having an end connection attachable to the upper end of a casing string in use; a second tubular component securable to the first component, the relative axial position in which the first component is secured to the second component being adjustable to vary the vertical position at which the casing string is supported; and a load shoulder radically movable between an expanded position in which in use it supports the second component on a co-operating landing surface and a contracted position in which it allows passage of the shoulder past the landing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Robert Malone, Gavin Thomas Reilly, Sean McAvoy
  • Patent number: 5841621
    Abstract: This invention pertains to sensorless measurement of electromagnetically induced displacement in actuators and similar units. Primarily, the device imposes a constant frequency and amplitude excitation sine wave on a coil through a fixed impedance of a drive isolation network. The amplitude and phase of the voltage across the coil fluctuate depending upon the coil's inductance. This variation in the value of the inductance is dependent upon the change in magnetic flux density generated by the coil current and the displacement in air gap between the coil pole and armature. Accordingly, a measurable magnitude of displacement can be controllably imposed upon a system of solenoids. The displacement is thus measured and set without the use of extrinsic sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Arthur L. Dean, Michael Steven Giusto
  • Patent number: 5840768
    Abstract: Novel pharmaceutical suspensions comprising a pharmaceutically active ingredient suspended in aqueous media with a suspending agent comprising attrited microcrystalline cellulose coprocessed and at least partially surface coated with a calcium sodium alginate salt complex barrier dispersant and readily dispersible and hydratable dry formulations thereof are described and exemplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Edward Selinger, Sheila M. Dell, John A. Colliopoulos, William J. Reilly, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5840958
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for preparing certain isomers of 2,2-dimethyl-3-(2,2-disubstitutedvinyl)cyclopropanecarboxylic acid or derivatives thereof. More specifically it relates to the epimerization of the 1S cyclopropanecarboxylic acid and its derivatives into the corresponding 1R isomers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald E. Montgomery, Leland A. Smeltz
  • Patent number: 5837315
    Abstract: Compositions for controlling damage to cementitious materials as a result of alkali-silica reactions (ASR) are provided. The compositions include a lithium containing material and a surface active agent. The compositions are capable of effectively delivering lithium into a cementitious material after the composition is applied to a surface thereof. Processes for treating cementitious materials using the compositions are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Gary Earl Foltz, Hugh Hong Wang, David Brian Stokes, Claudio Emilio Manissero
  • Patent number: 5837920
    Abstract: The break action cannon invention disclosed herein enables weaponization and integration of complex fire control systems concurrent with projectile loading operations in a gun system such that superior firing cycle and efficient power and thermal management are achieved. A barrel is detachably shifted and tipped at an angle to accept a projectile while propellant charge supply systems and other firing preparations proceed simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Richard W. Staiert, James E. Wildman
  • Patent number: 5836445
    Abstract: A flexible pouch having a filter. A multi-compartment flexible pouch having a common axis of radial symmetry and removable sealing means separating the compartments. A process for making a multi-compartment pouch having a common axis of radial symmetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventor: Richard B. Provonchee
  • Patent number: H1759
    Abstract: It has now been found that certain novel benzyloxyphenyl-substituted heterocycles are useful as pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicides. These compounds are represented by formula I: ##STR1## where Q is 1-substituted-6-trifluoromethyl-2,4(1H,3H)-pyrimidinedion-3 -yl, 4-difluoromethyl-4,5-dihydro-3-methyl-1,2,4-triazol-5(1H)-on-1-yl, 4-halo-5-difluoromethoxy-1-methylpyrazol-3-yl, a 3,4,5,6-tetrahydrophthalimid-1-yl, 8-thia-1,6-diazabicyclo?4.3.0!-nonane-7-on-9-iminoyl, 4-methyl-1,2,4-triazine-3,5-dion-2-yl, 3-chloro-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindazol-2-yl, 1,4-dihydro-4-(3-fluoropropyl)-5H-tetrazole-5-on-1-yl or a 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1,2,4-triazolo-?4,3-a!pyridin-3(2H)-on-2-yl moiety; Z is oxygen, sulfur or CH.sub.2 ; n is 0 or 1, and W, X, Y, R, and R.sup.1 are as described in the specification. Preferred are those compounds where W is oxygen; X is hydrogen or fluoro; Y is methyl or ethyl; n is 1; Z is oxygen; R is methyl; and R.sup.1 is hydroxyalkyl or CH.sub.2 OCONHCH.sub.3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: George Theodoridis, Scott D. Crawford, Lester L. Maravetz, Saroj Sehgel, Dominic Suarez
  • Patent number: H1764
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method for controlling the weeds Papever, Matricharia, Viola, and/or Polygonum in cereal crops comprising the step of applying to the locus where the weed control is desired a herbicidal formulation comprised of a benzyluracil having the formula ##STR1## where V is chlorine; W is chlorine or methoxy; X is hydrogen; Y is chlorine or methoxy; and R is methyl or amino. Preferred benzyluracils are those where R is methyl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick W. Hotzman, James T. Bahr