Patents Examined by Andrew H. Metz
  • Patent number: 4695365
    Abstract: A spindle oil is hydrotreated and then hydrodewaxed in the presence of a catalyst containing at least 70 percent by weight of an intermediate pore molecular sieve in the support so as to produce a selected fraction having a low pour point and viscosity comparable to the original spindle oil, said fraction being then suitable as a "cutter stock" for lowering the pour point of fuel oils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1987
    Assignee: Union Oil Company of California
    Inventors: Donald B. Ackelson, Eric L. Moorehead, John W. Ward, Jon D. Probst
  • Patent number: 4695665
    Abstract: A process flow is presented for a hydrocarbon conversion process in which a relatively volatile hydrocarbon is separated from less volatile feed and product hydrocarbons present in a reaction zone effluent stream. The preferred usage is in the alkylation of benzene with propylene. The reaction zone effluent stream is passed into a lower portion of a rectified separation zone. Recycle aromatic hydrocarbon is passed into a contact exchanger/absorber present in the top portion of the rectified separation zone. The liquid collected at the bottom of the contact exchanger is removed as a sidecut stream and passed into the reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1987
    Assignee: UOP Inc.
    Inventor: Richard R. De Graff
  • Patent number: 4695327
    Abstract: A surface of an object, e.g., a semiconductor wafer, is treated to remove impurities, including those in microrecesses having minimum dimensions of ten microns or less. The object is positioned in a sealed chamber which has a limited number of potential spaceborne nucleation centers and is at a treating temperature, T. A condensable solvent is introduced into the chamber until its pressure is close to but below its vapor pressure at the temperature, T. This condition is maintained until a plurality of molecular layers of the solvent is adsorbed in the microrecesses. Then, the pressure of the solvent is increased to at least unity whereat it condenses in the microrecesses. Impurities can be removed from the microrecesses in this manner thus improving product quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1987
    Assignee: Purusar Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas J. Grebinski
  • Patent number: 4695369
    Abstract: A process for converting heavy petroleum feedstocks to distillate products with reduced metals and asphaltene content by reaction with hydrogen in the presence of at least two metal catalysts, one a known hydrogenation catalyst and the other either zinc, iron or copper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1987
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Diwakar Garg, Edwin N. Givens, Frank K. Schweighardt
  • Patent number: 4695326
    Abstract: The sweetner prepared by adding palatinose to sucrose is a low-cariogenic since palatinose is not only low cariogenic in itself, but also inhibits the formation of insoluble glucan from sucrose in an oral cavity.Since the sweetner is almost same as sucrose in quality of sweetness, dissolvability in a mouth, palatability, etc., and further is low-cariogenic when it is used in foods, it is suitable as sweetner. In addition, since the sweetner is usually crystalline or powdery, it is easy to handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1987
    Assignee: Mitsui Sugar Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ichiro Takazoe, Kosei Ohta, Junichi Shimizu, Kazumasa Suzuki, Tatsuya Iwakura, Yoshikazu Nakajima
  • Patent number: 4695368
    Abstract: A process for producing a high octane gasoline from a hydrocarbon feedstock in which the feedstock is contacted in the presence of hydrogen under hydrocracking conditions, preferably ammonia-rich hydrocracking conditions, with a hydrocracking catalyst comprising at least one hydrogenation metal component in combination with a crystalline, silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieve having pores defined by 12-membered rings of oxygen atoms. The preferred silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieve is SAPO-5 molecular sieve and the catalyst preferably contains both a Group VIB metal hydrogenation component, such as molybdenum or tungsten, and a Group VIII hydrogenation metal component, such as nickel or cobalt. It has been found that such a process produces gasoline boiling fractions having substantially increased research and motor octane numbers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1987
    Assignee: Union Oil Company of California
    Inventor: John W. Ward
  • Patent number: 4695363
    Abstract: Wax crystals of improved morphology are produced by employing a dewaxing aid in an agitated solvent dewaxing environment, preferably an agitated indirect chilling solvent dewaxing environment, such as an agitated chiller, such as a scraped surface chiller which has been modified so that the scraper is not in contact with the internal wall of the chiller wherein a high degree of agitation is maintained by rotating the paddles to achieve a paddle tip speed of 25 to 400 ft./min. and the gap between the agitator tip and the inner wall of the vessel is about 0.5 to 40% of the internal diameter of the chiller. Agitation in agitated indirect chiller appratus has been shown to produce significantly improved feed filter rates and liquids/solids ratios when employed in conjunction with dewaxing aids in solvent dewaxing processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1987
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventor: Theodore H. West
  • Patent number: 4695671
    Abstract: An improved process for the removal of by-product amounts of undesirable aromatic hydrocarbon compounds from a mixture comprised of such compounds and predominantly tetramethyltetrahydronaphthalene is provided. In accordance with the process the mixture is contacted with a concentrated sulfuric acid solution whereby the undesirable aromatic hydrocarbons are dissolved therein and the acid phase containing said hydrocarbons is removed from the mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1987
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventor: Raymond L. Cobb
  • Patent number: 4693817
    Abstract: An assembly which is used with an undergravel aquarium filter in order to keep the passage between the bottom cavity under the filter and the uptake tube free from blockage due to gravel. The assembly is in the form of a collar which extends from the bottom plate of the undergravel filter at the point of insertion of the uptake tube. A ring, with a structure to prevent the passage of gravel through the central portion thereof is fitted within the collar. The ring may be removed from the collar to clear gravel out from the collar before insertion of the uptake tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1987
    Assignee: Penn Plax Plastics Inc.
    Inventors: Jerome Goldman, Marvin Goldman, Gerald Phillips
  • Patent number: 4693808
    Abstract: This invention discloses an integral hydrocarbon conversion apparatus and process having a downflow hydrocarbon reactor, an upflow riser regenerator and a horizontal cyclone separator to permit the conversion of hydrocarbonaceous materials to hydrocarbonaceous products of lower molecular weight in a near zero pressure drop environment. A leg seal is provided surmounted to the downflow reactor to insure that the pressure is at least 0.5 psi higher than the upper portion of the downflow reactor (higher than the loop seal valve) vis-a-vis the pressure in the lower portion of the downflow reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1987
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventor: Thomas S. Dewitz
  • Patent number: 4693756
    Abstract: A method for the removal of carbonizable, adherent coatings from the surfaces of metal parts, in which the metal parts are baked or pyrolyzed in the course of the method. The metal parts are brought to the carbonizing temperature in a substantially closed retort. Without leaving the retort, the adherent, carbonized coating is blasted off by means of heated blasting medium as the carbonization proceeds or after it ends. The heating of the metal parts is performed in a fluidized bed within the retort. The medium of the fluidized bed is simultaneously the blasting medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1987
    Assignee: Schlick Roto-Jet Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Horst D. Schlick
  • Patent number: 4693810
    Abstract: In a solvent extraction/steam distillation process for the recovery of aromatic hydrocarbons wherein stripping water is obtained from the distillation column, the improvement comprising(a) dividing the stripping water into two streams;(b) passing one stream to a motive steam generator wherein the stripping water is vaporized and passed to a steam ejector;(c) passing the other stream to a heat exchanger wherein the stripping water is vaporized by lean solvent from the distillation column, the lean solvent is cooled, and the stripping water vapor passes to the steam ejector;(d) passing the stripping water vapor from steps (b) and (c) to the distillation column; and(e) passing the lean solvent from step (c) to the extractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1987
    Assignee: Union Carbide Corporation
    Inventors: Paulino Forte, Jose A. Vidueira
  • Patent number: 4692239
    Abstract: Hydrocarbons may be recovered from crushed oil shale by contacting the coarsely crushed oil shale material with a hydrogen doner solvent such as tetralin, alone or in combination with high pressure gaseous hydrogen for a period of time sufficient to cause disintegration of the oil shale lumps, after which the pretreated material is introduced into a vessel containing a free oxygen containing gas such as air in a fluid environment at a temperature range from 30.degree. to 43.degree. C. to remove organic fragments from the polymeric kerogen component of oil shale by oxidative scissions. The oxidation is conducted using a liquid phase solvent for the organic fractions removed from the kerogen. Preferred solvents are naphthalene, tetralin and phenanthracene. The solvent-organic fraction solution is then separated into solvent and organic fraction by sublimation with the solvent being recycled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1987
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventor: Robert H. Friedman
  • Patent number: 4692238
    Abstract: A process for recovery of organic oils and residues in association with inorganic solids by solvent extraction and for the recovery of solvent used for the extraction. The organic solvent extracted inorganic solids having remaining associated organic solvent is fluidized in a bed with fluidizing gas comprising superheated vapor of the organic solvent vaporizing and removing a substantial portion of the associated organic solvent. Then the solids are countercurrently contacted with a combustion gas stream at a lower temperature than the solids physically stripping a substantial portion of the residual solvent from the solids, the combustion gas stream being enhanced for combustion by comprising stripped organic solvent and by being heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1987
    Assignee: Institute of Gas Tehnology
    Inventors: William W. Bodle, Paul B. Tarman
  • Patent number: 4692253
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for removing extraneous matters from cooling water used in a tubular heat exchanger such as a condensor is disclosed. When a pressure difference between the portions upstream and downstream of a filter element exceeds a predetermined threshold value set in advance in accordance with the flow rate of the cooling water, a blow-down operation is started to remove the extraneous matters scraped off of the outer peripheral surface of the filter element by a turning flow. The extraneous matters are removed at a rate of clogging of the filter element of 50%, irrespective of the flow rate of the cooling water. The clogging rate can be sensed accurately, and the blow-down operation is effected with necessary and sufficient frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1987
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsumoto Otake, Masahiko Miyai, Yasuteru Mukai, Isamu Okouchi
  • Patent number: 4692237
    Abstract: A process for removing suspended solids, particularly difficultly filterable inorganic solids, from an oil obtained as a refinery process fraction from steam and catalytic cracking units, shale oil retorting process fraction, or from coal conversion processes by adding to the oil an agglomerating agent which is a polyelectrolyte, usefully a water-in-oil emulsion of a water-soluble polymer whereby said solids are clustered together into readily separable agglomerates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1987
    Assignee: Exxon Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Edward C. Hsu, Philip Merchant, Jr., Dean L. Smith, Jr., Kevin P. Kelly, Sylvia M. Lacy
  • Patent number: 4690750
    Abstract: A high surface area substrate with controlled pore size and slot geometry is used in an adsorbing process. The material is made by depositing at least two materials in alternating layers. The film is then broken up and one of the materials is etched away to produce a slotted surface structure. These slots can add size and shape selectivity to separations and catalytic processes which because of the uniform and controllable dimensions (>5A) would be superior to that obtainable from zeolites and clays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1987
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Charles B. Roxlo, Harry W. Deckman
  • Patent number: 4691074
    Abstract: A compound, monochloro biphenyl: CuAlCl.sub.4, has been isolated and proven to exist. Monochloro biphenyl can be any one of the possible three isomers, ortho, meta and para or can be any mixture of the three isomers.An improved process is provided for the separation of olefins, acetylenes, carbon monoxide or hydrogen sulfide from gaseous feedstreams. A solvent is made by dissolving CuAlCl.sub.4 in a liquid mixture of monochloro biphenyls. This solvent is used to contact the gas feedstream and dissolve by complexation the ligand part of the feedstream. The ligand-fat solvent is separated from the gas feedstream and the ligand recovered by running the solvent through an atmospheric reboiler and one or more reboilers under vacuum. The gas streams of the reboilers are combined and after cooling are a nearly pure stream of the separated ligand.Solutions of CuAlCl.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1987
    Inventor: David G. Walker
  • Patent number: 4689209
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to a method for producing nitrous oxide, and more specifically, to a method for producing nitrous oxide by reacting ammonia with at least one molten nitrate salt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1987
    Assignee: Olin Corporation
    Inventor: B. Timothy Pennington
  • Patent number: 4689313
    Abstract: A catalyst useful for producing substantially C.sup.2 + alkane hydrocarbons from mixtures of CO and H.sub.2 which comprises a mixture of iron carbide and ilmenite supported on titania wherein the ratio of the iron present in the supported iron carbide and ilmenite, calculated as Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, to the surface area of the titania support ranges from about 2.times.10.sup.-3 to 25.times.10.sup.-3 grams per square meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1987
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Rocco A. Fiato, Edwin L. Kugler