Patents Examined by Ming Cheung Po
  • Patent number: 10752853
    Abstract: A block copolymer including: at least one block A of following formula (I): in which p is an integer ranging from 2 to 100, R1? is selected from hydrogen and the methyl group, R2? is chosen from C1 to C34 hydrocarbon-based chains, at least one block B of following formula (II): in which n is an integer ranging from 2 to 40, R1 is chosen from hydrogen and the methyl group, Z is chosen from the oxygen atom and the group —NR?— with R? being chosen from a hydrogen atom and C1 to C12 hydrocarbon-based chains, G is a C1 to C34 hydrocarbon-based chain substituted by at least one quaternary ammonium group and optionally one or more hydroxyl groups. Also, the use of such a block copolymer as detergent additive in an internal combustion engine liquid fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: TOTAL MARKETING SERVICES
    Inventor: Julie Prevost
  • Patent number: 10738255
    Abstract: Systems and methods of producing a solid fuel composition are disclosed. In particular, systems and methods for producing a solid fuel composition by heating and mixing a solid waste mixture below atmospheric pressure to a maximum temperature sufficient to melt the mixed plastics within the solid waste mixture is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Ecogensus LLC
    Inventor: Bjornulf White
  • Patent number: 10738251
    Abstract: This present disclosure relates to biodiesel compositions comprising polymeric pour point depressants, and crystallization modifiers, to improve cold flow properties for biodiesel fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Trent University
    Inventors: Suresh Narine, Laziz Bouzidi, Athira Mohanan
  • Patent number: 10731094
    Abstract: A combustible log torch which can be ignited to provide heat for warmth or cooking, and light for illumination can be made by compacting a mixture of wood sawdust and a food grade binder. Such combustible log torches are convenient and safe to use and provide optimal characteristics of quickly providing a bonfire without the need for a fireplace or a fire pit. The fire produced by such combustible logs is also optimal for safely and conveniently cooking food items. Such a combustible log torch can be manufactured by a method which comprises compacting a composition which is comprised of a mixture of wood particles and a food grade binder under a pressure of at least about 5 psi (0.034 megapascals) in a mold to produce the combustible log torch having at least one vertical cavity (hole) which extend vertically through the entire length of the combustible log torch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: CAMPFIRE INNOVATIONS, LLC
    Inventors: David W. Hodsdon, Michael L. Wahl, Phillip P. McDonald
  • Patent number: 10633605
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for modifying of bio-oil, the process including the steps where feedstock including bio-oil is allowed react with a reducing agent in at least one polar solvent, to obtain modified bio-oil. Also disclosed is the use modified bio-oil, obtainable by the process, as heating oil, as starting material in processes for producing fuels, fuel components, fine chemicals, chemical building-blocks, and solvents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: UPM-KYMMENE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Janne Asikkala, Andrea Gutierrez
  • Patent number: 10618853
    Abstract: A handheld tool configured to procure fuel is described. Embodiments of the fuel procurement tool include a handhold having a cutting mechanism located proximate one end of the handhold. Typically, the cutting mechanism can include at least one cutter link having a depth gauge, a top plate, and a gullet formed between the depth gauge and the top plate. The fuel procurement tool can be implemented to procure kindling from a piece of wood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Inventor: Chris D. Willis
  • Patent number: 10619106
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods, reactor systems and catalysts for converting biomass and biomass-derived feedstocks to C8+ hydrocarbons using heterogenous catalysts. The product stream may be separated and further processed for use in chemical applications, or as a neat fuel or a blending component in jet fuel and diesel fuel, or as heavy oils for lubricant and/or fuel oil applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Virent, Inc.
    Inventors: Brice Dally, Warren Lyman, Randy Cortright, Paul Blommel
  • Patent number: 10611871
    Abstract: The invention provides a composition comprising: (a) a star polymer comprising: (i) a core portion comprising a polyvalent (meth) acrylic monomer, oligomer or polymer thereof or a polyvalent divinyl non-acrylic monomer, oligomer or polymer thereof; and (ii) at least two arms of polymerized alkyl (meth)acrylate ester; and (b) an oil of lubricating viscosity, wherein the core portion further comprises a functional group of formula (I): —CH2—C(R1)(C(?O)A)-Y—??(I) wherein R1 is hydrogen, a linear or branched alkyl group containing 1 to 5 carbon atoms; A is nitrogen or oxygen; and Y is a free radical leaving group selected from the group consisting of one or more atoms or groups of atoms which may be transferred by a radical mechanism under the polymerisation conditions, a halogen, an —O—N? group and an —S—C(?S)— group. The invention further provides the use of the composition in an oil of lubricating viscosity as a dispersant, a viscosity modifier or a precursor to a dispersant viscosity modifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: The Lubrizol Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel C. Visger, Mark Davies, David Price, Marina Baum, Barton J. Schober
  • Patent number: 10604712
    Abstract: This application relates to phase behaviors of certain triacylglycerols and fatty acid methyl esters, and how the phase behaviors of these individual components in a biodiesel fuel, as well as their combined mixtures, helps understand the fundamental mechanisms of their crystallization so as to design biodiesel fuels with improved low temperature characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Trent University
    Inventors: Suresh Narine, Laziz Bouzidi, Bruce Darling, Mark Baker, Shaojun Li, Ali Mahdevari
  • Patent number: 10590357
    Abstract: A diesel fuel substitute composition includes an alcohol, an acetal, and an additive comprising a component selected from the group consisting of C3-8 dialkyl ethers, alkylated phenols, R—NO2, and combinations thereof. A method for forming the diesel fuel substitute is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: GAS TECHNOLOGIES L.L.C.
    Inventors: Ian Lawrence Gaffney, Evan Michael Visser, Krishna K. Rao
  • Patent number: 10584296
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and system for torrefaction of biomass and combustion of generated torrefaction gases. The torrefaction gases released from the biomass during the torrefaction reaction are withdrawn from the reactor and into a first burning zone. A secondary stream of air is introduced to the first burning zone to combust the torrefaction gases whereupon hot flue gases are obtained. Part of the hot flue gases are directed to a mixing unit. The rest of the hot flue gas is directed to a second burning zone for complete combustion of the flue gases. The fully combusted flue gases obtained in the second burning zone are directed to a heat recovery unit where the temperature of the flue gas is decreased. Part of the cold flue gases are directed to the mixing unit where it is mixed with the hot flue gases such that a stream of cooled flue gases is obtained. The stream of the cooled flue gases are diverted into the torrefaction reactor for direct heating of the biomass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: BIOENDEV AB
    Inventors: Jonas Ranggård, Ingemar Lindh, Martin Sjöström, Martin Strandberg, Anders Nordin, Erik Sandström
  • Patent number: 10577544
    Abstract: The present application discloses low temperature, low pressure methods (LTLP) for upgrading and/or stabilizing bio-oil or a bio-oil fraction. One method comprises providing a bio-oil or bio-oil fraction and hydrogen, which are reacted in the presence of a catalyst at a temperature of less than 150° C. and a pressure of less than 100 bar (absolute) to produce a hydrogenated liquid oil at a carbon yield of over 75%. Another method comprises providing a bio-oil or bio-oil fraction, providing oxygen reducing reaction conditions, and reacting the bio-oil or bio-oil fraction under the oxygen reducing reaction conditions at LTLP to produce an upgraded bio-oil product containing fewer carbonyls than the bio-oil or bio-oil fraction. Yet another method comprises providing a bio-oil or bio-oil fraction and a solution comprising one or more fermentation organisms and a sugar source. The solution and bio-oil or bio-oil fraction are combined to obtain a fermentation mixture, which is incubated at 15° C. to 30° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Marjorie Rover, Robert C. Brown, Patrick H. Hall, Ryan G. Smith
  • Patent number: 10570349
    Abstract: A method is provided for the production of pellets or briquettes from lignin containing material in the form of processable particles wherein the method includes the steps of: passing the material having a relative moisture content of more than about 20%, by weight, to a drying step and drying it to a relative moisture content of about 0-30% by weight; passing the material to a heat treatment step and heating the material to about 180-235° C. by injecting steam into a reactor; maintaining the material in the reactor at the temperature reached for a sufficient time to soften the material and release lignin; reducing the pressure in the reactor in at least one step; and pelletizing or briquetting the treated material. The invention also concerns pellets or briquettes produced by the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Zilkha Biomass Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Arne Johannes Grønn
  • Patent number: 10549496
    Abstract: Provided is a coal briquette manufacturing apparatus including a material storage configured to store a plurality of materials for manufacturing coal briquette; a material mixer configured to mix the plurality of materials discharged from the material storage; a coal briquette manufacturer configured to manufacture the coal briquette by press-forming the materials mixed in the material mixer; and a conveyor provided to the material storage, the material mixer or the coal briquette manufacturer, and configured to transport the plurality of materials or the coal briquette, wherein the plurality of materials includes coal ashes, dolomite, and limestone, and a weight of the coal ashes is 70 to 80% of an entire weight of the plurality of materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Inventors: Billion Sung Hoon Zorh, Nam Sook Chough
  • Patent number: 10550347
    Abstract: Unleaded aviation gasoline. High quality aviation alkylate, or similar base fuel is blended with selected alkyl benzenes to improve the functional engine performance to avoid harmful detonation in aircraft piston engines. Monoalkylated benzenes such as toluene and ethylbenzene are utilized in combination with dialkylated benzenes, such as xylenes. Aromatic amines, for example p-toluidine and m-toluidine, may be added to increase MON. Alcohols such as ethanol and/or methanol may be added in effective amounts to produce unleaded AVGAS which meets a required freeze point. Amounts of toluene to p-toluidine, and/or of the amount of p-toluidine to m-toluidine may be in a controlled ratio in amounts effective to produce unleaded AVGAS which meets a required freeze point. Isopentane and/or butane may be included to provide a required vapor pressure profile. Manufacturing may be achieved using an additive concentrate including aromatic solvents, aromatic amines, and alcohols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: GENERAL AVIATION MODIFICATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: George W. Braly
  • Patent number: 10538715
    Abstract: A method for upgrading coal fines by separating out at least some mineral components is provided. The method comprises the treatment of optionally graded coal fines with microalgae in aqueous medium to form a slurry under conditions that permit adsorption of microalgae onto particles of coal fines. The slurry is treated to separate a first fraction that is rich in coal fines together with adsorbed microalgae thereon from a second fraction that has more mineral components in it than does the first fraction and processing the first fraction to recover upgraded coal fines therefrom. Contacting is preferably carried out in a manner aimed at loading the coal fines generally evenly with microalgae adsorbed thereon in an amount of from 5 to 15% by weight of coal fines. Separation may be carried out by sedimentation, cyclone separation or flotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
    Inventor: Bernard Zeelie
  • Patent number: 10513665
    Abstract: The present embodiments describe a method to reduce vanadium corrosion in a gas turbine by adding an oleophilic corrosion inhibitor into a combustion fuel, in which the oleophilic corrosion inhibitor comprises carbon black support particles and magnesium bonded to the carbon black support particles. The carbon black support particles comprise a particle size less than 40 nanometer (nm), and oxygen content less than 1 weight percent (wt %), and a surface area of at least 50 square meters per gram (m2/gram).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Ki-Hyouk Choi
  • Patent number: 10495037
    Abstract: A device for treating crude oil or heavy fuel oil with a method that can lower the pour point to at least 0° C. Crude oil or heavy fuel oil treated thusly maintains this property for at least one year. The device for lowering the pour point of crude oil or heavy fuel oil uses a specific ionization method. The method is conducted by passing a heated medium through the main ionization device which is grounded and which includes three parallelly connected segments whereby each segment includes a protective copper tube inside which a protective insulating shell is situated, inside which a copper housing is situated. In each copper housing there is one cylindrical-shaped external core in which an internal core is placed, and the external core and internal core are manufactured as two different alloys by composition. Also described is a process for casting the external core and internal core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Inventor: Antun Drvar
  • Patent number: 10457810
    Abstract: A product is provided comprising at least one densified biomass particulate having a substantially smooth, non-flakey outer surface and containing no added binder, wherein said densified biomass particulate is comprised of a plurality of pretreated lignin-coated plant biomass fibers which contain a trace amount of base from pretreatment of said fibers. Methods for using and making the product are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Bruce E. Dale, Bryan Ritchie, Derek Marshall
  • Patent number: 10457884
    Abstract: A detergent additive package, fuel additive concentrate, fuel composition and method for operating an engine on an unleaded gasoline fuel. The additive package includes a Mannich base detergent mixture, wherein the mixture contains a first Mannich base detergent component derived from a di- or polyamine and a second Mannich base detergent component derived from a monoamine. A weight ratio of the first Mannich base detergent to the second Mannich base detergent in the mixture ranges from about 1:6 to about 3:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Afton Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph M. Russo, William Jay Colucci