Patents Examined by Jacob Thomas Minskey
  • Method for separating lignin from black liquor
    Patent number: 8940130
    Abstract: A method was developed for: a) improving the filterability of acid-precipitated lignin from kraft black liquors, b) increasing the dry solids content of the final lignin product, c) reducing the acid requirements and d) minimizing or eliminating TRS emissions during the acidification of black liquor to produce lignin and/or the subsequent suspension of the lignin in acid and/or the washing of the lignin with acid. No major difference in the chemical composition, MWD and main functional groups was found in the lignin of the present invention compared with lignins produced by conventional methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: FPInnovations
    Inventors: Lamfeddal Kouisni, Michael Paleologou
  • Process for reducing one or more insoluble solids in a black liquor
    Patent number: 8940129
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a process for reducing one or more insoluble solids in a black liquor. The process may include hydrothermal processing the black liquor to a temperature of about 250-less than about 300° C. for an effective time to reduce the one or more insoluble solids by more than about 40%, by weight, based on a weight of the one or more insoluble solids prior to hydrothermal processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: John Q. Chen, Mark B. Koch
  • Engineered molded fiberboard panels and methods of making and using the same
    Patent number: 8936699
    Abstract: A fiberboard panel is formed from at least one corrugated sheet of molded cellulose fiber material having alternating ribs and grooves. The corrugated sheet or panel is formed by a wet processing method including successive cold and hot press steps in which a wet mat is pressed between an opposing perforated platen and non-perforated, elastomeric material platen of cross-sectional shape substantially matching the desired panel shape and dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignees: Noble Environmental Technologies Corporation, The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Robert Noble, John F. Hunt, Timothy L. Newburn, Hongmei Gu
  • Molding die for molding boot for constant velocity joint
    Patent number: 8932505
    Abstract: An inner die of a molding die includes a core shaft, split dies radially arranged along an outer peripheral surface of the core shaft around an axis of the core shaft, which serves as a center, and a cylindrical set ring arranged below the split dies, the core shaft being inserted through the set ring. An annular engaging surface, which is a tapered surface whose diameter is gradually reduced downward, is formed in an inner peripheral side of an upper end portion of the set ring, and lower end portions of the respective split dies are introduced into, and engaged with the engaging surface. The molding die includes a pressing portion that presses downward upper end portions of the respective split dies introduced into the set ring, so as to move the lower end portions of the respective split dies toward the axis along the engaging surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Jtekt Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ueno, Kazuki Hamada
  • Process of extraction of hemicellulose from corn fiber
    Patent number: 8926794
    Abstract: A process of separating one or more components of corn fiber that comprises contacting the corn fiber with an extraction fluid that comprises at least one weak acid, increasing the temperature of the resulting mixture of fiber and fluid to solubilize hemicellulose of the corn fiber into the fluid, cooling the mixture, and separating the cooled extraction mixture into a soluble fraction comprising dissolved hemicellulose and an insoluble fraction comprising cellulose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Tate & Lyle Ingredients Americas LLC
    Inventors: Xian-Zhong Han, Rohit A. Medhekar, Andrew J. Hoffman
  • Method of molding boot for constant velocity joint
    Patent number: 8926885
    Abstract: A method of molding a boot for a constant velocity joint includes: molding a compact by injection molding; raising split dies of an inner die so as to separate the split dies from a set ring; raising a core shaft of the inner die so as to separate the core shaft from the split dies; separating each of the split dies from the compact; introducing a lower end portion of the separated split die into the set ring along an engaging surface; and inserting a lower end portion of the core shaft through the set ring from above the set ring, and pressing upper end portions of the split dies downward by a protruding portion at an upper end portion of the core shaft so that the lower end portions of the split dies are engaged with the engaging surface and the split dies are brought into close contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ueno, Kazuki Hamada
  • Disposable wipers and towels containing 100% recycled fibers
    Patent number: 8916025
    Abstract: A high utility (strong in both dry and wet states, highly absorbent, abrasion resistant, thick, and soft) disposable wiper or towel that contains 85% or more recycled fibers and, in one construction, 100% recycled fibers. The recycled fibers are from post-consumer waste and/or post-industrial waste. The base sheet is produced in a wet-pressed, creped process and is post-treated using a DRC process. The final wiper or towel is a double re-creped, non-woven sheet having a first side and a second side. The non-woven sheet includes about 85% to about 90% by weight of cellulose fibers. The non-woven sheet includes at least about 10% to about 15% by weight of binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Sellars Absorbent Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry Ballas, Gary Bouplon, Nate Sellars, Thomas T. Ziegert
  • Graphic medium and method of making same
    Patent number: 8916243
    Abstract: A graphic medium and a method of making same employs a paper core having a normalized opacity within a range of about 0.15 to about 0.4 percent/grams per square meter. The graphic medium includes a first material layer on a first side of the paper core and a second material layer on one or both of the first side between the paper core and the first material layer and a second, opposite side of the paper core. The graphic medium has a translucent opacity between about 40% and about 90%. The method includes mechanically refining a mixture of wood fibers until a paper substrate is formed having the normalized opacity. The paper substrate is calendered using a paper making machine and the first and second material layers are applied to form the graphic medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Xulong Fu, Lokendra Pal, Ronald J Selensky
  • Vapor phase hydrolysis vessel and methods related thereto
    Patent number: 8916023
    Abstract: A prehydrolysis of wood chips or other lignocellulosic material in a vessel having a gaseous portion and a liquid portion. The vessel includes at least one stress relieving piece that inhibits overcompression of the lignocellulosic material. The vessel operates in a continuous process. A slurry of lignocellulosic material and liquid is removed from the bottom of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Andritz, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian F. Greenwood
  • Processes to produce short cut microfibers
    Patent number: 8906200
    Abstract: A process for producing a microfiber product stream, the process comprising: (A) contacting cut multicomponent fibers having a length of less than 25 millimeters with a treated aqueous stream in a fiber slurry zone to produce a cut multicomponent fiber slurry; (B) contacting the cut multicomponent fiber slurry with a heated aqueous stream in a mix zone to produce a heated multicomponent fiber slurry; (C) routing the heated multicomponent fiber slurry to a fiber opening zone to remove a portion of the water dispersible sulfopolyester to produce an opened microfiber slurry; and (D) routing the opened microfiber slurry to a primary solid liquid separation zone to produce the microfiber product stream and a first mother liquor stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Kenny Randolph Parker, Daniel William Klosiewicz, Ramesh Chand Munjal, David J. Rogers, Jr., Dustin A Tremaine
  • Method of detecting and reducing contamination in papermaking boiler systems
    Patent number: 8906202
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method and system for detecting contamination of boiler condensate and/or boiler feedwater in a papermaking process. The method includes measuring an oxidation-reduction potential at one or more locations in the boiler condensate and/or the boiler feedwater of the papermaking process with one or more corrosion stress monitoring devices. A controller is operable to assess whether the measured or a calculated oxidation-reduction potential is within an optimum range. The controller is operable to cause transmission of a signal to direct feeding an effective amount of one or more reductants and/or one or more pH-controlling chemicals into the boiler feedwater and/or one or more a satellite feed locations of the papermaking process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Nalco Company
    Inventors: David A. Grattan, Peter D. Hicks, George T. Totura
  • Processing biomass
    Patent number: 8900839
    Abstract: Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems are described that can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Xyleco, Inc.
    Inventor: Marshall Medoff
  • Cellulosic and lignocellulosic structural materials and methods and systems for manufacturing such materials
    Patent number: 8900407
    Abstract: Methods of treating wood and wood products include irradiating untreated wood having a first molecular weight with ionizing radiation to cause an increase in the molecular weight of a cellulosic component of the wood to a second, relatively higher molecular weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Xyleco, Inc.
    Inventor: Marshall Medoff
  • Crosshead
    Patent number: 8899954
    Abstract: In a crosshead, a pair of sheets (7) are formed by bisecting a parison (3) suspended from a resin flow passage (30) formed between a core (9) and a die (8) by causing a first dividing body (33) of a separator (5, 5a) provided on the core (9) or the die (8) to contact a second dividing body (40) provided on the core (9) or the die (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignees: The Japan Steel Works, Ltd., Yachiyo Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Ito, Ryuichi Kawachi, Naoto Saito, Yukio Fujiwara, Satoru Araya, Kazuhiro Ohtaki, Masahiro Niihori, Takatoshi Watanabe, Naoya Tabuchi, Wataru Iwase
  • Process for generating a hydrocarbon feedstock lignin
    Patent number: 8894818
    Abstract: The present invention discloses processes for generating a hydrocarbon feedstock for biofuels synthesis from lignin via hydroprocessing. Embodiments of the present invention can occur in a refinery setting or in a paper mill setting. Embodiments of the present invention can utilize the separated lignin or the entire black liquor solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: William Lawrence Schinski, Alexander E. Kuperman, Jinyi Han, Douglas Gene Naae
  • Processes to produce short cut microfibers
    Patent number: 8882963
    Abstract: A process for producing a microfiber product stream is provided comprising: (A) contacting cut multicomponent fibers having a length of less than 25 millimeters with a heated aqueous stream in a fiber opening zone to remove a portion of the water dispersible sulfopolyester to produce an opened microfiber slurry; wherein the heated aqueous stream is at a temperature of at least 40° C.; and (B) routing the opened microfiber slurry to a primary solid liquid separation zone to produce the microfiber product stream and a first mother liquor stream; wherein the first mother liquor stream comprises water and the water dispersible sulfopolyester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Kenny Randolph Parker, Daniel William Klosiewicz, Ramesh Chand Munjal, David J Rogers, Jr., Dustin A Tremaine
  • Modelling of a property of paper, paperboard or board
    Patent number: 8877010
    Abstract: Properties of an end product, such as paper, paperboard or board, are important for the user of the end product. To be able to manufacture an end product of desired quality, it is important to know what kind of paper pulp used for manufacturing the end product results in a particular kind of property of the end product. Embodiments provide a method and an apparatus for generating a model, which model connects at least one property of the end product with at least one property of the paper pulp. On the basis of the model, also the manufacturing process can be controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Metso Automation Oy
    Inventor: Matti-Paavo Sarén
  • Modular fabrication systems and methods
    Patent number: 8877112
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an article fabrication system having a plurality of material deposition tools containing one or more materials useful in fabricating the article, and a material deposition device having a tool interface for receiving one of the material deposition tools. A system controller is operably connected to the material deposition device to control operation of the material deposition device. Also disclosed is a method of fabricating an article using the system of the invention and a method of fabricating a living three-dimensional structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Cornell Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence Bonassar, Hod Lipson, Daniel L. Cohen, Evan Malone
  • Processes to produce short cut microfibers
    Patent number: 8871052
    Abstract: A process for separating a first mother liquor stream is provided. The process comprises: separating a first mother liquor stream in a second solid liquid separation zone to produce a secondary wet cake stream and a second mother liquor stream; wherein the first mother liquor stream comprises water non-dispersible microfiber, water, and water dispersible sulfopolyester; wherein the second mother liquor stream comprises water and water dispersible sulfopolyester; and wherein the secondary wet cake stream comprises water non-dispersible polymer microfiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Kenny Randolph Parker, Daniel William Klosiewicz, Ramesh Chand Munjal, David J Rogers, Jr., Dustin A Tremaine
  • Process for decomposing lignin in biomass
    Patent number: 8871051
    Abstract: A mild inexpensive process for treating lignocellulosic biomass involves oxidative delignification of wood using an aqueous solution prepared by dissolving a catalytic amount of manganese (III) acetate into water and adding hydrogen peroxide. Within 4 days and without agitation, the solution was used to convert poplar wood sections into a fine powder-like delignified, cellulose rich materials that included individual wood cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Los Alamos National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Kirk Davin Rector, Marcel Lucas, Gregory Lawrence Wagner, David Bryan Kimball, Susan Kloek Hanson