Patents by Inventor Alan D. Lovas

Alan D. Lovas 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: 11339532
    Abstract: Methods of forming crosslinked cellulose include mixing a crosslinking agent with cellulose mat fiber fragments composed of hydrogen-bonded cellulose fibers and having a solids content of about 45-95% to form a substantially homogenous mixture of non-crosslinked, individualized cellulose fibers, drying the resulting mixture to 85-100% solids, then curing the dried mixture under conditions effective to crosslink the cellulose fibers. Some of such methods may include fragmenting a cellulose fiber mat to form the mat fragments. Systems include a mixing unit (such as a high-consistency mixer) configured to form, from the mat fragments and a crosslinking agent, a substantially homogenous mixture of non-crosslinked, individualized cellulose fibers and crosslinking agent, at ambient conditions, a drying unit to dry the substantially homogenous mixture to a consistency of 85-100%, and a curing unit and to cure the crosslinking agent to form dried and cured crosslinked cellulose fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY
    Inventors: Charles E. Miller, Alan D. Lovas
  • Publication number: 20190085508
    Abstract: Methods of forming crosslinked cellulose include mixing a crosslinking agent with cellulose mat fiber fragments composed of hydrogen-bonded cellulose fibers and having a solids content of about 45-95% to form a substantially homogenous mixture of non-crosslinked, individualized cellulose fibers, drying the resulting mixture to 85-100% solids, then curing the dried mixture under conditions effective to crosslink the cellulose fibers. Some of such methods may include fragmenting a cellulose fiber mat to form the mat fragments. Systems include a mixing unit (such as a high-consistency mixer) configured to form, from the mat fragments and a crosslinking agent, a substantially homogenous mixture of non-crosslinked, individualized cellulose fibers and crosslinking agent, at ambient conditions, a drying unit to dry the substantially homogenous mixture to a consistency of 85-100%, and a curing unit and to cure the crosslinking agent to form dried and cured crosslinked cellulose fibers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2018
    Publication date: March 21, 2019
    Applicant: International Paper Company
    Inventors: Charles E. Miller, Alan D. Lovas
  • Patent number: 10156042
    Abstract: Methods of forming crosslinked cellulose include mixing a crosslinking agent with cellulose mat fiber fragments composed of hydrogen-bonded cellulose fibers and having a solids content of about 45-95% to form a substantially homogenous mixture of non-crosslinked, individualized cellulose fibers, drying the resulting mixture to 85-100% solids, then curing the dried mixture under conditions effective to crosslink the cellulose fibers. Some of such methods may include fragmenting a cellulose fiber mat to form the mat fragments. Systems include a mixing unit (such as a high-consistency mixer) configured to form, from the mat fragments and a crosslinking agent, a substantially homogenous mixture of non-crosslinked, individualized cellulose fibers and crosslinking agent, at ambient conditions, a drying unit to dry the substantially homogenous mixture to a consistency of 85-100%, and a curing unit and to cure the crosslinking agent to form dried and cured crosslinked cellulose fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY
    Inventors: Charles E. Miller, Alan D. Lovas
  • Publication number: 20170183817
    Abstract: Methods of forming crosslinked cellulose include mixing a crosslinking agent with cellulose mat fiber fragments composed of hydrogen-bonded cellulose fibers and having a solids content of about 45-95% to form a substantially homogenous mixture of non-crosslinked, individualized cellulose fibers, drying the resulting mixture to 85-100% solids, then curing the dried mixture under conditions effective to crosslink the cellulose fibers. Some of such methods may include fragmenting a cellulose fiber mat to form the mat fragments. Systems include a mixing unit (such as a high-consistency mixer) configured to form, from the mat fragments and a crosslinking agent, a substantially homogenous mixture of non-crosslinked, individualized cellulose fibers and crosslinking agent, at ambient conditions, a drying unit to dry the substantially homogenous mixture to a consistency of 85-100%, and a curing unit and to cure the crosslinking agent to form dried and cured crosslinked cellulose fibers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Applicant: WEYERHAEUSER NR COMPANY
    Inventors: Charles E. Miller, Alan D. Lovas