Patents by Inventor Alain Foucault

Alain Foucault has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8715956
    Abstract: A method is provided for extracting cellular compounds from micro-organisms. The method includes culturing the micro-organisms and extracting the cellular compounds from the micro-organisms. Each step is carried out in a continuous manner, wherein the extraction step is carried out separately from the culture step and in conditions of biocompatibility with the micro-organisms. The method further includes at least one step of recovering the cellular compounds and at least one step of recirculating the micro-organisms towards the culture step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignees: Universite de Nantes, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
    Inventors: Jérémy Pruvost, Jack Legrand, Alain Foucault
  • Patent number: 8177933
    Abstract: A first insert (15) forming a ring is placed inside and in contact with a core (10) in degradable material. On the outer face of the core a plurality of inserts (20) is arranged each comprising a platform (21) applied against the outer face of the core and at least one blade (22) extending substantially radially outwards. A fibrous structure (56) is wound around the core passing over the platforms (21) and over the inner surface of the ring-shaped insert (15). Molding of the fibrous structure, impregnated with a composition containing a resin, is performed before polymerization of the resin and removal of the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventors: Alain Foucault, Etienne Juchauld, David Marsal, Stéphane Otin
  • Patent number: 8092681
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for separating constituents of a liquid feed by liquid-liquid centrifugal chromatography and to a device for implementing it. Constituents (A, B) having different partition coefficients such that they are respectively carried along at unequal velocities by a light solvent (l) and a heavier solvent (L), the feed is continuously injected at an intermediate point of a separation column (col), successive cycles comprising alternately a heavy solvent injection stage and a light solvent injection stage are carried out respectively at the two ends of the column consisting of the interconnection in series of at least one set of separation cells, and the separated solvents (FA, FB) are collected during each one of said stages at the column ends opposite the solvent injection points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: François Couillard, Alain Foucault, Daniel Durand
  • Publication number: 20110073717
    Abstract: An aircraft with a hybrid power supply, the aircraft comprising: an external structure (12 to 20); electrical equipment (34); internal combustion propulsion means (40); and means for feeding energy to the propulsion means; the aircraft being characterized in that it further comprises: a plurality of converters for directly converting light energy into electrical energy (24), which converters are disposed on at least a fraction of the outside surface of the external structure; means (32) for comparing the electrical energy produced by said converters with the instantaneous consumption of said electrical equipment (34); means (36) for recovering the excess electrical energy, if any; and means (38) for delivering to said propulsion means (40) additional energy taken from said excess electrical energy, if any.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: SNECMA
    Inventors: Alain Foucault, Etienne Juchauld, Arnaud Pierrot, Stephane Rousselin
  • Publication number: 20110048620
    Abstract: A first insert (15) forming a ring is placed inside and in contact with a core (10) in degradable material. On the outer face of the core a plurality of inserts (20) is arranged each comprising a platform (21) applied against the outer face of the core and at least one blade (22) extending substantially radially outwards. A fibrous structure (56) is wound around the core passing over the platforms (21) and over the inner surface of the ring-shaped insert (15). Moulding of the fibrous structure, impregnated with a composition containing a resin, is performed before polymerization of the resin and removal of the core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Applicant: SNECMA
    Inventors: Alain FOUCAULT, Etienne Juchauld, David Marsal, Stéphane Otin
  • Publication number: 20100178669
    Abstract: HA method is provided for extracting cellular compounds from micro-organisms. The method includes culturing the micro-organisms and extracting the cellular compounds from the micro-organisms. Each step is carried out in a continuous manner, wherein the extraction step is carried out separately from the culture step and in conditions of biocompatibility with the micro-organisms. The method further includes at least one step of recovering the cellular compounds and at least one step of recirculating the micro-organisms towards the culture step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: UNIVERSITE DE NANTES
    Inventors: Jeremy Pruvost, Jack Legrand, Alain Foucault
  • Patent number: 7553421
    Abstract: Method for sizing the cells of a centrifugal liquid-liquid chromatography “column” (CPC column) consisting of stacked discs on which the cells connected in cascade (in series) by small channels are engraved. Rotation of the stack creates a high centrifugal acceleration field which makes it possible to keep a liquid phase referred to as stationary phase motionless, whereas a mobile phase circulates along the CPC column. The cells are three-dimensional, with two dimensions (L, l) of the cells oriented in a plane substantially normal to the axis of rotation (?) of the disc and a third dimension (e) oriented in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation, and selected so as to be at least equal to one of the other two dimensions (L, l), thus providing higher efficiency. When the scale of the devices has to be changed, the size of the cells is modified ensuring that, in any case, this third dimension (e) is favored so as to be as great as possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignees: Institut Francais du Petrole, Universite de Nantes
    Inventors: Alain Foucault, Jack Legrand, Luc Marchal, Daniel Durand
  • Publication number: 20090039025
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for separating constituents of a liquid feed by liquid-liquid centrifugal chromatography and to a device for implementing it. Constituents (A, B) having different partition coefficients such that they are respectively carried along at unequal velocities by a light solvent (l) and a heavier solvent (L), the feed is continuously injected at an intermediate point of a separation column (col), successive cycles comprising alternately a heavy solvent injection stage and a light solvent injection stage are carried out respectively at the two ends of the column consisting of the interconnection in series of at least one set of separation cells, and the separated solvents (FA, FB) are collected during each one of said stages at the column ends opposite the solvent injection points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventors: Francois Couillard, Alain Foucault, Daniel Durand
  • Patent number: 7422685
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for separating constituents of a liquid feed by liquid-liquid centrifugal chromatography and to a device for implementing it. Constituents (A, B) having different partition coefficients such that they are respectively carried along at unequal velocities by a light solvent (1) and a heavier solvent (L), the feed is continuously injected at an intermediate point of a separation column (col), successive cycles comprising alternately a heavy solvent injection stage and a light solvent injection stage are carried out respectively at the two ends of the column consisting of the interconnection in series of at least one set of separation cells, and the separated solvents (FA, FB) are collected during each one of said stages at the column ends opposite the solvent injection points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignees: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: François Couillard, Alain Foucault, Daniel Durand
  • Publication number: 20080035546
    Abstract: Method for sizing the cells of a centrifugal liquid-liquid chromatography “column” (CPC column) consisting of stacked discs on which the cells connected in cascade (in series) by small channels are engraved. Rotation of the stack creates a high centrifugal acceleration field which makes it possible to keep a liquid phase referred to as stationary phase motionless, whereas a mobile phase circulates along the CPC column. The cells are three-dimensional, with two dimensions (L, I) of the cells oriented in a plane substantially normal to the axis of rotation (?) of the disc and a third dimension (e) oriented in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of rotation, and selected so as to be at least equal to one of the other two dimensions (L, I), thus providing higher efficiency. When the scale of the devices has to be changed, the size of the cells is modified ensuring that, in any case, this third dimension (e) is favoured so as to be as great as possible.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Alain Foucault, Jack Legrand, Luc Marchal, Daniel Durand
  • Publication number: 20060243665
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for separating constituents of a liquid feed by liquid-liquid centrifugal chromatography and to a device for implementing it. Constituents (A, B) having different partition coefficients such that they are respectively carried along at unequal velocities by a light solvent (1) and a heavier solvent (L), the feed is continuously injected at an intermediate point of a separation column (col), successive cycles comprising alternately a heavy solvent injection stage and a light solvent injection stage are carried out respectively at the two ends of the column consisting of the interconnection in series of at least one set of separation cells, and the separated solvents (FA, FB) are collected during each one of said stages at the column ends opposite the solvent injection points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2004
    Publication date: November 2, 2006
    Inventors: Francois Couillard, Alain Foucault, Daniel Durand
  • Patent number: 6537452
    Abstract: A centrifuge partition chromatography device for separating a liquid into at least two phases, comprising at least one flat ring (3a) that can be rotationally driven around its axis, disposed in a substantially vertical position. Said ring (3a) comprises a plurality of cells (7) whose dimensions are greater in a first direction than the dimensions in a second direction which is substantially perpendicular to the first, disposed side by side and distributed along the periphery of said ring (3a) in addition to being connected to each other in a series by inlet and outlet ducts (15) terminating in the opposite respective ends of each cells (7) enabling the circulation of liquid. The invention is characterized in that said ducts (15) are disposed in such a way that the liquid supply jet penetrates the cells (7) in a direction that includes at least one radial component relative to the axis of rotation of said ring (3a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignees: Etudes et Application Industrielle de Brevets-SEAB, Institut Francais de Recherche pour l'Exploitation de la Mer-Ifremer
    Inventors: François de La Poype, Roland De La Poype, Patrick Durand, Alain Foucault, Jack Legrand, Gérard Patissier, Jean-Michel Rosant