Patents by Inventor Brandon W. Forbes
Brandon W. Forbes 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).
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Publication number: 20240418302Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a male connector for establishing a line-seal for transport of fluids between pipes. The male connector is structured to increase a seating pressure of the line-seal. The male connector comprises a male portion provided at one end of the male connector. The male portion typically comprises a conical sealing frustum provided at one end of the male connector, such that the conical sealing frustum comprises convex sides. Moreover, the male connector is structured to be operatively coupled to a predetermined female connector such that the conical sealing frustum forms a substantially line-seal with the predetermined female connector for transport of a process fluid therethrough.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2024Publication date: December 19, 2024Applicant: CONTROLS SOUTHEAST, INC.Inventors: Brandon W. Forbes, Andrew Steven Pustay
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Publication number: 20240328717Abstract: A tracer panel that is easily installed on a structure (e.g., process pipe, vessel, or the like) in the proper locations and orientations. The tracer panel may be made of tubes of particular sizes (e.g., lengths, orientation, bend(s), or the like), which may be partially pre-formed and/or partially formed on site (e.g., cut, bent, assembled, or the like on-site) into the tracer panel. The tracers of the tracer panel may be connected by stiffener members to aid in restricting deformation of the panel or may use flexible members to allow installation on different curved surfaces. The tracer panel may be connected with other tracer panels to form a tracer system. Heat transfer elements and/or heat transfer panels (e.g., made up of multiple heat transfer elements) may be assembled to the tracer panel to improve the heat transfer between the tracer panel and the structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2024Publication date: October 3, 2024Applicant: CONTROLS SOUTHEAST, INC.Inventors: Brandon W. Forbes, Carl Richard Barrington, III
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Patent number: 10836637Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a contactor apparatus for degassing liquid sulfur, in order to separate the liquid sulfur from the process vapors. As such, the liquid sulfur is at least partially degassed to reduce off-gassing of dangerous gases during storage and transportation without the need for additional equipment to degas the liquid sulfur during or after storage. The contactor apparatus may receive liquid sulfur and degassing gas, which are passed through a catalyst zone, which along with the degassing gas degasses the liquid sulfur. The contactor apparatus is structured such that a catalyst within the catalyst zone is constrained within and prevented from flowing out, while still allowing the flow of liquid sulfur and degassing gas.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2019Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: CONTROLS SOUTHEAST, INC.Inventors: Brandon W. Forbes, Thomas C. Willingham
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Publication number: 20200278059Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a male connector for establishing a line-seal for transport of fluids between pipes. The male connector is structured to increase a seating pressure of the line-seal. The male connector comprises a male portion provided at one end of the male connector. The male portion typically comprises a conical sealing frustum provided at one end of the male connector, such that the conical sealing frustum comprises convex sides. Moreover, the male connector is structured to be operatively coupled to a predetermined female connector such that the conical sealing frustum forms a substantially line-seal with the predetermined female connector for transport of a process fluid therethrough.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2020Publication date: September 3, 2020Applicant: CONTROLS SOUTHEAST, INC.Inventors: Brandon W. Forbes, Andrew Steven Pustay
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Patent number: 10675561Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a sulfur trap comprising an inlet, a first chamber, a divider, a second chamber, an outlet, and a float assembly. The float assembly may have many different configurations, but generally comprises a float and plug, is configured to float within liquid sulfur, and is operatively coupled to a seal seat in the divider for sealing and unsealing the first chamber from the second chamber. Generally, only liquid sulfur is allowed to pass from the first chamber into the second chamber. However, the sulfur trap may be configured to allow for pressure relief, such that during an overpressure event the plug and seal seat disengage and allow the liquid-gas mixture to flow into the second chamber to prevent damage within the system. In some embodiments a filter and/or the flow of liquid sulfur is directed to collect debris from the liquid sulfur.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2018Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: CONTROLS SOUTHEAST, INC.Inventors: Brandon W. Forbes, David R. Hornbaker, Thomas C. Willingham, George A. Hearn
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Publication number: 20200039824Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a contactor apparatus for degassing liquid sulfur, in order to separate the liquid sulfur from the process vapors. As such, the liquid sulfur is at least partially degassed to reduce off-gassing of dangerous gases during storage and transportation without the need for additional equipment to degas the liquid sulfur during or after storage. The contactor apparatus may receive liquid sulfur and degassing gas, which are passed through a catalyst zone, which along with the degassing gas degasses the liquid sulfur. The contactor apparatus is structured such that a catalyst within the catalyst zone is constrained within and prevented from flowing out, while still allowing the flow of liquid sulfur and degassing gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2019Publication date: February 6, 2020Applicant: CONTROLS SOUTHEAST, INC.Inventors: Brandon W. Forbes, Thomas C. Willingham
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Publication number: 20180290076Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a sulfur trap comprising an inlet, a first chamber, a divider, a second chamber, an outlet, and a float assembly. The float assembly may have many different configurations, but generally comprises a float and plug, is configured to float within liquid sulfur, and is operatively coupled to a seal seat in the divider for sealing and unsealing the first chamber from the second chamber. Generally, only liquid sulfur is allowed to pass from the first chamber into the second chamber. However, the sulfur trap may be configured to allow for pressure relief, such that during an overpressure event the plug and seal seat disengage and allow the liquid-gas mixture to flow into the second chamber to prevent damage within the system. In some embodiments a filter and/or the flow of liquid sulfur is directed to collect debris from the liquid sulfur.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2018Publication date: October 11, 2018Inventors: Brandon W. Forbes, David R. Hornbaker, Thomas C. Willingham, George A. Hearn
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Publication number: 20180179061Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a sulfur recovery system that utilizes a degassing system for degassing liquid sulfur. The degassing system includes a degassing device vessel, a pressure equalizer, a motive force device, a sulfur cooler, and/or a process gas cooler. The degassing system may be located within or outside of the sulfur recovery unit and utilizes the process gas from the sulfur recovery unit. The degassing device may receive liquid sulfur and process gas, which are passed through a catalyst, which along with the process gas, degases the liquid sulfur. As such, the degassing system when used within the sulfur recovery unit degasses the liquid sulfur to reduce off-gassing of dangerous hydrogen sulfide during storage and transportation without the need for additional equipment to degas the liquid sulfur during or after the sulfur storage.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2018Publication date: June 28, 2018Inventors: Brian Nathaniel Greenway Groves, Brandon W. Forbes, Thomas C. Willingham
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Patent number: 9993746Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a sulfur trap comprising an inlet, a first chamber, a divider, a second chamber, an outlet, and a float assembly. The float assembly may have many different configurations, but generally comprises a float and plug, is configured to float within liquid sulfur, and is operatively coupled to a seal seat in the divider for sealing and unsealing the first chamber from the second chamber. Generally, only liquid sulfur is allowed to pass from the first chamber into the second chamber. However, the sulfur trap may be configured to allow for pressure relief, such that during an overpressure event the plug and seal seat disengage and allow the liquid-gas mixture to flow into the second chamber to prevent damage within the system. In some embodiments a filter and/or the flow of liquid sulfur is directed to collect debris from the liquid sulfur.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2016Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignee: CONTROLS SOUTHEAST, INC.Inventors: Brandon W. Forbes, David R. Hornbaker, Thomas C. Willingham, George A. Hearn
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Publication number: 20170225102Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a sulfur trap comprising an inlet, a first chamber, a divider, a second chamber, an outlet, and a float assembly. The float assembly may have many different configurations, but generally comprises a float and plug, is configured to float within liquid sulfur, and is operatively coupled to a seal seat in the divider for sealing and unsealing the first chamber from the second chamber. Generally, only liquid sulfur is allowed to pass from the first chamber into the second chamber. However, the sulfur trap may be configured to allow for pressure relief, such that during an overpressure event the plug and seal seat disengage and allow the liquid-gas mixture to flow into the second chamber to prevent damage within the system. In some embodiments a filter and/or the flow of liquid sulfur is directed to collect debris from the liquid sulfur.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2016Publication date: August 10, 2017Inventors: Brandon W. Forbes, David R. Hornbaker, Thomas C. Willingham, George A. Hearn
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Patent number: 9522346Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a sulfur trap comprising an inlet, a first chamber, a divider, a second chamber, an outlet, and a float assembly. The float assembly may have many different configurations, but generally comprises a float and plug, is configured to float within liquid sulfur, and is operatively coupled to a seal seat in the divider for sealing and unsealing the first chamber from the second chamber. Generally, only liquid sulfur is allowed to pass from the first chamber into the second chamber. However, the sulfur trap may be configured to allow for pressure relief, such that during an overpressure event the plug and seal seat disengage and allow the liquid-gas mixture to flow into the second chamber to prevent damage within the system. In some embodiments a filter and/or the flow of liquid sulfur is directed to collect debris from the liquid sulfur.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2013Date of Patent: December 20, 2016Assignee: CONTROLS SOUTHEAST, INC.Inventors: Brandon W. Forbes, David R. Hornbaker, Thomas C. Willingham, George A. Hearn
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Publication number: 20160137499Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a sulfur recovery system that utilizes a degassing system for degassing liquid sulfur. The degassing system includes a degassing device vessel, a pressure equalizer, a motive force device, a sulfur cooler, and/or a process gas cooler. The degassing system may be located within or outside of the sulfur recovery unit and utilizes the process gas from the sulfur recovery unit. The degassing device may receive liquid sulfur and process gas, which are passed through a catalyst, which along with the process gas, degasses the liquid sulfur. As such, the degassing system when used within the sulfur recovery unit degasses the liquid sulfur to reduce off-gassing of dangerous hydrogen sulfide during storage and transportation without the need for additional equipment to degas the liquid sulfur during or after the sulfur storage.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2015Publication date: May 19, 2016Inventors: Brian Nathaniel Greenway Groves, Brandon W. Forbes, Thomas C. Willingham
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Publication number: 20130247763Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to a sulfur trap comprising an inlet, a first chamber, a divider, a second chamber, an outlet, and a float assembly. The float assembly may have many different configurations, but generally comprises a float and plug, is configured to float within liquid sulfur, and is operatively coupled to a seal seat in the divider for sealing and unsealing the first chamber from the second chamber. Generally, only liquid sulfur is allowed to pass from the first chamber into the second chamber. However, the sulfur trap may be configured to allow for pressure relief, such that during an overpressure event the plug and seal seat disengage and allow the liquid-gas mixture to flow into the second chamber to prevent damage within the system. In some embodiments a filter and/or the flow of liquid sulfur is directed to collect debris from the liquid sulfur.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2013Publication date: September 26, 2013Applicant: Controls Southeast, Inc.Inventors: Brandon W. Forbes, David R. Hornbaker, Thomas C. Willingham, George A. Hearn