Patents by Inventor Claude A. Lafleur

Claude A. Lafleur 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: 8221591
    Abstract: A delayed coking unit with a coking drum having an upper cylindrical portion and a lower frusto-conical portion is supported by means of a support structure surrounding the cone frustum of the lower portion of the drum; the support structure comprises a cone support member having a concave frusto-conical support surface mating with the outer convex cone frustum of the lower portion of the drum so that the drum sits in the cone support element. The support structure further has a weight supporting member or members attached to the cone support member intermediate its upper and lower peripheries which acts or act to transfer the weight of the drum (and contents) downwards to a suitable sub-structure such as a concrete slab. In a preferred embodiment, the drum may also be stayed against lateral forces by means of guide members at the upper portion of the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company
    Inventors: Domingo E. de Para, Claude A. Lafleur, Ronald J. Kobialka
  • Patent number: 8002983
    Abstract: A strainer device for a fluid flow circuit removes debris and solid particles from the fluid flow to prevent plugging and reduce fouling of the system. The assembly includes a chamber that can be hydrocyclonic, a collection area, a screen assembly and a distributor that allows selective connection to a flushing fluid. The fluid flows through the chamber past the strainer device, with large particles collecting in the collection area under the influence of gravity and smaller solid particles being collected in the screen assembly. Particles can be flushed from the system by selectively activating the distributor to back flush the screen assembly and sweep the collection area free of solid particles without disassembling the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company
    Inventors: Amar S. Wanni, Thomas M. Rudy, Claude A. Lafleur, Clifford A. Hay, Tomas R. Melli
  • Publication number: 20100059357
    Abstract: A delayed coking unit with a coking drum having an upper cylindrical portion and a lower frusto-conical portion is supported by means of a support structure surrounding the cone frustum of the lower portion of the drum; the support structure comprises a cone support member having a concave frusto-conical support surface mating with the outer convex cone frustum of the lower portion of the drum so that the drum sits in the cone support element. The support structure further has a weight supporting member or members attached to the cone support member intermediate its upper and lower peripheries which acts or act to transfer the weight of the drum (and contents) downwards to a suitable sub-structure such as a concrete slab. In a preferred embodiment, the drum may also be stayed against lateral forces by means of guide members at the upper portion of the drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicant: ExxonMobile Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Domingo E. de Para, Claude A. Lafleur, Ronald J. Kobialka
  • Publication number: 20080251467
    Abstract: A strainer device for a fluid flow circuit removes debris and solid particles from the fluid flow to prevent plugging and reduce fouling of the system. The assembly includes a chamber that can be hydrocyclonic, a collection area, a screen assembly and a distributor that allows selective connection to a flushing fluid. The fluid flows through the chamber past the strainer device, with large particles collecting in the collection area under the influence of gravity and smaller solid particles being collected in the screen assembly. Particles can be flushed from the system by selectively activating the distributor to back flush the screen assembly and sweep the collection area free of solid particles without disassembling the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Applicant: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Amar S. Wanni, Thomas M. Rudy, Claude A. Lafleur, Clifford A. Hay, Tomas R. Melli
  • Patent number: 6878055
    Abstract: A window assembly (1) enabling an innovative manner of adjustably allowing an air circulation between an outside environment of the window assembly (1) and an inside environment of the window assembly (1), the inside environment not being affected by wind and/or precipitation conditions in the outside environment as a result of said circulation. The window assembly (1) comprises a bottom section (15) and at least one intermediate section (17) placed above the bottom section (15) and operatively connected thereto, an air circulation being carried out between a front side (11a) of the bottom section (15) and a rear side (13b) of the intermediate section (17) in an indirect manner via a bottom side (19) of the intermediate section (17). Regular means (21) are also provided for regulating the passage of air through said bottom side (19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Inventor: Jean-Claude Lafleur
  • Publication number: 20040188040
    Abstract: A window assembly (1) enabling an innovative manner of adjustably allowing an air circulation between an outside environment of the window assembly (1) and an inside environment of the window assembly (1), the inside environment not being affected by wind and/or precipitation conditions in the outside environment as a result of said circulation. The window assembly (1) comprises a bottom section (15) and at least one intermediate section (17) placed above the bottom section (15) and operatively connected thereto, an air circulation being carried out between a front side (11a) of the bottom section (15) and a rear side (13b) of the intermediate section (17) in an indirect manner via a bottom side (19) of the intermediate section (17). Regular means (21) are also provided for regulating the passage of air through said bottom side (19).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Publication date: September 30, 2004
    Inventor: Jean-Claude Lafleur
  • Patent number: 5189862
    Abstract: The present window is particularly adapted to be installed on doors or the like and includes a glazing unit and an improved window frame to hold the unit in position and which is made of two frame sections and clips transversely adjustably interconnect both frame sections, whereby the frame adjusts to doors of different thicknesses while holding the glazed unit centrally of the door thickness. The clips are releasable to readily free at least one frame section, to permit replacement of a broken glazing sheet. Each frame section is molded in one piece or is an assembly of four extruded pieces. The glazing unit may consist of a single glass pane or of two glass panes each retained to a frame section or of a double glazing unit with an improved interspacing frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1993
    Inventor: Jean-Claude Lafleur
  • Patent number: 4802319
    Abstract: Each panel section of a garage door of the articulated type comprises an insulating board of styrofoam, taken in sandwich between two metallic facing sheets, the styrofoam and facing sheets edgewisely carried by a quadrangular tubular frame. The frame is made from extruded tubular sections of plastic, the interior walls thereof being coplanar and flatly edgewisely abutting against the styrofoam boards. A reinforcing metallic frame is mounted within the tubular frame. The tubular frame includes inturned locking flanges at the interior and exterior faces of the panel; at least one locking flange is releasable. The facing sheets and styrofoam boards are held in place by the locking flanges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1989
    Inventor: Jean-Claude Lafleur