Patents by Inventor Daniel Michael Leo

Daniel Michael Leo 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).

  • Publication number: 20250388827
    Abstract: A feedstock delivery system transfers a carbonaceous material, such as municipal solid waste, into a product gas generation system. The feedstock delivery system includes a splitter for splitting bulk carbonaceous material into a plurality of carbonaceous material streams. Each stream is processed using a weighing system for gauging the quantity of carbonaceous material, a densification system for forming plugs of carbonaceous material, a de-densification system for breaking up the plugs of carbonaceous material, and a gas and carbonaceous material mixing system for forming a carbonaceous material and gas mixture. A pressure of the mixing gas is reduced prior to mixing with the carbonaceous material, and the carbonaceous material to gas weight ratio is monitored. A transport assembly conveys the carbonaceous material and gas mixture to a first reactor where at least the carbonaceous material within the mixture is subject to thermochemical reactions to form the product gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2025
    Publication date: December 25, 2025
    Inventors: Ravi Chandran, Daniel A. Burciaga, Daniel Michael Leo, Shawn Robert Freitas, Dave G. Newport, Justin Kevin Miller, Kaitlin Emily Harrington, Brian Christopher Attwood
  • Patent number: 12480061
    Abstract: A system for using carbonaceous material includes a steam reformer, a hydrocarbon reformer, and at least one gas-cleanup system. Also described are methods of producing liquid fuel and/or chemicals from carbonaceous material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2024
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2025
    Assignee: ThermoChem Recovery International, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravi Chandran, Dave G. Newport, Daniel A. Burciaga, Daniel Michael Leo, Justin Kevin Miller, Brian Christopher Attwood
  • Patent number: 12408599
    Abstract: Variable-scale, modular, easily manufacturable, energy efficient, reliable, and computer-operated farming superstructure systems (FSS) may be used to produce Cannabis for human consumption with minimal water and environmental impact. A FSS system may comprise modules including liquid distribution and plant growing. A FSS may be configured to be constructed out of a plurality of containerized modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2025
    Assignee: INSECTERGY LLC
    Inventor: Daniel Michael Leo
  • Publication number: 20250108033
    Abstract: Variable-scale, modular, easily manufacturable, energy efficient, reliable, and computer operated Insect Production Superstructure Systems (IPSS) may be used to produce insects for human and animal consumption, and for the extraction and use of lipids for applications involving medicine, nanotechnology, consumer products, and chemical production with minimal water, feedstock, and environmental impact. An IPSS may comprise modules including feedstock mixing, feedstock splitting, insect feeding, insect breeding, insect collection, insect grinding, pathogen removal, multifunctional flour mixing, and lipid extraction. An IPSS may be configured to be constructed out of a plurality of containerized modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2024
    Publication date: April 3, 2025
    Applicant: INSECTERGY, LLC
    Inventor: Daniel Michael Leo
  • Publication number: 20250059036
    Abstract: A system and method for processing unconditioned syngas first removes solids and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC), then removes volatile organic compounds (VOC), and then removes at least one sulfur containing compound from the syngas. Additional processing may be performed depending on such factors as the source of syngas being processed, the products, byproducts and intermediate products desired to be formed, captured or recycled and environmental considerations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2024
    Publication date: February 20, 2025
    Inventors: Ravi Chandran, Daniel Michael Leo, Shawn Robert Freitas, Dave G. Newport, Hamilton Sean Michael Whitney, Daniel A. Burciaga
  • Patent number: 12203040
    Abstract: A two-stage syngas production method to produce a final product gas from a carbonaceous material includes producing a first product gas in a first reactor, separating char from the first product gas to produce separated char and char-depleted product gas, and separately reacting the separated char and the char-depleted product gas with an oxygen-containing gas in a second reactor to produce a final product gas. The separated char is introduced into the second reactor above the char-depleted product gas. The solids separation device may include serially connected cyclones, and the separated char may be entrained in a motive fluid in an eductor to produce a char and motive fluid mixture prior to being transferred to the second reactor. A biorefinery method produces a purified product from the final product gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: ThermoChem Recovery International, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravi Chandran, Dave G. Newport, Daniel A. Burciaga, Daniel Michael Leo
  • Publication number: 20250011668
    Abstract: A feedstock delivery system transfers a carbonaceous material, such as municipal solid waste, into a product gas generation system. The feedstock delivery system includes a splitter for splitting bulk carbonaceous material into a plurality of carbonaceous material streams. Each stream is processed using a weighing system for gauging the quantity of carbonaceous material, a densification system for forming plugs of carbonaceous material, a de-densification system for breaking up the plugs of carbonaceous material, and a gas and carbonaceous material mixing system for forming a carbonaceous material and gas mixture. A pressure of the mixing gas is reduced prior to mixing with the carbonaceous material, and the carbonaceous material to gas weight ratio is monitored. A transport assembly conveys the carbonaceous material and gas mixture to a first reactor where at least the carbonaceous material within the mixture is subject to thermochemical reactions to form the product gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2024
    Publication date: January 9, 2025
    Inventors: Ravi Chandran, Daniel A. Burciaga, Daniel Michael Leo, Shawn Robert Freitas, Dave G. Newport, Justin Kevin Miller, Kaitlin Emily Harrington, Brian Christopher Attwood
  • Patent number: 12187969
    Abstract: A method of producing liquid fuel and/or chemicals from a carbonaceous material entails combusting a conditioned syngas in pulse combustion heat exchangers of a steam reformer to help convert carbonaceous material into first reactor product gas which includes carbon monoxide, hydrogen, carbon dioxide and other gases. A portion of the first reactor product gas is transferred to a hydrogen reformer into which additional conditioned syngas is added and a reaction carried out to produce an improved syngas. The improved syngas is then subject to one or more gas clean-up steps to form a new conditioned syngas. A portion of the new conditioned syngas is recycled to be used as the conditioned syngas in the pulse combustion heat exchangers and in the hydrocarbon reformer. A system for carrying out the method include, a steam reformer, a hydrocarbon reformer, first and second gas-cleanup systems, a synthesis system and an upgrading system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: ThermoChem Recovery International, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravi Chandran, Dave G. Newport, Daniel A. Burciaga, Daniel Michael Leo, Justin Kevin Miller, Brian Christopher Attwood
  • Patent number: 12178798
    Abstract: Insects are grown then harvested, mixed with ingredients, and then used to produce products. Insect are grown within an interior of an enclosure and heat is removed therefrom by providing a refrigerant vapor, condensing the refrigerant vapor to produce a liquid refrigerant, and evaporating the liquid refrigerant by transferring the heat from the interior of the enclosure to the liquid refrigerant. Insects eat feedstock and excrete insect frass which is then collected for use as a fertilizer. Also described is insect breeding and insect lipid extraction. Cannabis plants may be grown together with the insects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: INSECTERGY LLC
    Inventor: Daniel Michael Leo
  • Publication number: 20240306678
    Abstract: A method to produce a Cannabis extract is described. Cannabis oil is mixed with ethanol to produce a liquid mixture, ethanol from the mixture is then evaporated, condensed, and reused in the mixing step. The Cannabis oil may be ethanol extracted from Cannabis plant material or may be extracted with a solvent then mixed with the ethanol to produce the liquid mixture. Cooling, filtering, ingredient mixing, foodstuff or beverage production of the Cannabis extract or a distillate therefrom are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2024
    Publication date: September 19, 2024
    Inventor: DANIEL MICHAEL LEO
  • Patent number: 12077435
    Abstract: A system and method for processing unconditioned syngas first removes solids and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC), then removes volatile organic compounds (VOC), and then removes at least one sulfur containing compound from the syngas. Additional processing may be performed depending on such factors as the source of syngas being processed, the products, byproducts and intermediate products desired to be formed, captured or recycled and environmental considerations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: ThermoChem Recovery International, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravi Chandran, Daniel Michael Leo, Shawn Robert Freitas, Dave G. Newport, Hamilton Sean Michael Whitney, Daniel A. Burciaga
  • Publication number: 20240254401
    Abstract: A system for using carbonaceous material includes a steam reformer, a hydrocarbon reformer, and at least one gas-cleanup system. Also described are methods of producing liquid fuel and/or chemicals from carbonaceous material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2024
    Publication date: August 1, 2024
    Inventors: Ravi Chandran, Dave G. Newport, Daniel A. Burciaga, Daniel Michael Leo, Justin Kevin Miller, Brian Christopher Attwood
  • Publication number: 20240226075
    Abstract: A vertically-integrated cannabis-related product production method is described, the method comprises, producing a distilled cannabinoid and/or a crystallized cannabinoid from cannabis plants, comprising: in a farming system, growing the cannabis plants, the cannabis plants comprise a cannabinoid; in an extraction system, extracting the cannabinoid from the cannabis plants; in a purification system, purifying the cannabinoid to produce a purified cannabinoid; and in a distillation and/or a crystallization system, distilling and/or crystallizing the purified cannabinoid to produce the distilled cannabinoid and/or the crystallized cannabinoid. Various ways to purify, distill, and process the cannabinoids are described. In insect pest management system may be integrated with the farming system to grow the cannabis plants in the presence of predatory mites which feed on insects and/or spider mites.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2024
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Inventor: Daniel Michael LEO
  • Patent number: 11986005
    Abstract: Methods to produce cannabis-related products derived from a cannabis oil extract subjected to a two-step supercritical carbon dioxide separation process are described. Cannabis terpenes are separated from cannabis plant material at a relatively lower temperature and pressure than the cannabis oil which may then be distilled and/or mixed with an ingredient to produce a multifunctional composition. Methods to produce medicinal and recreational cannabis and insect-related products are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: INSECTERGY, LLC
    Inventor: Daniel Michael Leo
  • Patent number: 11938119
    Abstract: A vertically-integrated cannabis-related product production method is described, the method comprises, producing a distilled cannabinoid and/or a crystallized cannabinoid from cannabis plants, comprising: in a farming system, growing the cannabis plants, the cannabis plants comprise a cannabinoid; in an extraction system, extracting the cannabinoid from the cannabis plants; in a purification system, purifying the cannabinoid to produce a purified cannabinoid; and in a distillation and/or a crystallization system, distilling and/or crystallizing the purified cannabinoid to produce the distilled cannabinoid and/or the crystallized cannabinoid. Various ways to purify, distill, and process the cannabinoids are described. An insect pest management system may be integrated with the farming system to grow the cannabis plants in the presence of predatory mites which feed on insects and/or spider mites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: INSECTERGY, LLC
    Inventor: Daniel Michael Leo
  • Publication number: 20240059991
    Abstract: A two-stage syngas production method to produce a final product gas from a carbonaceous material includes producing a first product gas in a first reactor, separating char from the first product gas to produce separated char and char-depleted product gas, and separately reacting the separated char and the char-depleted product gas with an oxygen-containing gas in a second reactor to produce a final product gas. The separated char is introduced into the second reactor above the char-depleted product gas. The solids separation device may include serially connected cyclones, and the separated char may be entrained in a motive fluid in an eductor to produce a char and motive fluid mixture prior to being transferred to the second reactor. A biorefinery method produces a purified product from the final product gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: Ravi Chandran, Dave G. Newport, Daniel A. Burciaga, Daniel Michael Leo
  • Publication number: 20240008419
    Abstract: Methods to produce a spray-dried active tetrahydrocannabinol powder and/or cannabidiol powder are described. The methods include introducing a heated gas and a liquid mixture of water and active tetrahydrocannabinol and/or cannabidiol into a spray dryer and then separating powder from the spray-dryer in a two-step separation process. Counter-current spray dryers and co-current spray dryers are described followed by separation of the powders with a cyclone, filter, electrostatic precipitator, or sifter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventor: DANIEL MICHAEL LEO
  • Publication number: 20230407197
    Abstract: A feedstock delivery system transfers a carbonaceous material, such as municipal solid waste, into a product gas generation system. The feedstock delivery system includes a splitter for splitting bulk carbonaceous material into a plurality of carbonaceous material streams. Each stream is processed using a weighing system for gauging the quantity of carbonaceous material, a densification system for forming plugs of carbonaceous material, a de-densification system for breaking up the plugs of carbonaceous material, and a gas and carbonaceous material mixing system for forming a carbonaceous material and gas mixture. A pressure of the mixing gas is reduced prior to mixing with the carbonaceous material, and the carbonaceous material to gas weight ratio is monitored. A transport assembly conveys the carbonaceous material and gas mixture to a first reactor where at least the carbonaceous material within the mixture is subject to thermochemical reactions to form the product gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Ravi Chandran, Daniel A. Burciaga, Daniel Michael Leo, Shawn Robert Freitas, Dave G. Newport, Justin Kevin Miller, Kaitlin Emily Harrington, Brian Christopher Attwood
  • Publication number: 20230391618
    Abstract: A system and method for processing unconditioned syngas first removes solids and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC), then removes volatile organic compounds (VOC), and then removes at least one sulfur containing compound from the syngas. Additional processing may be performed depending on such factors as the source of syngas being processed, the products, byproducts and intermediate products desired to be formed, captured or recycled and environmental considerations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Ravi Chandran, Daniel Michael Leo, Shawn Robert Freitas, Dave G. Newport, Hamilton Sean Michael Whitney, Daniel A. Burciaga
  • Patent number: 11760949
    Abstract: A two-stage syngas production method to produce a final product gas from a carbonaceous material includes producing a first product gas in a first reactor, separating char from the first product gas to produce separated char and char-depleted product gas, and separately reacting the separated char and the char-depleted product gas with an oxygen-containing gas in a second reactor to produce a final product gas. The separated char is introduced into the second reactor above the char-depleted product gas. The solids separation device may include serially connected cyclones, and the separated char may be entrained in a motive fluid in an eductor to produce a char and motive fluid mixture prior to being transferred to the second reactor. A biorefinery method produces a purified product from the final product gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: ThermoChem Recovery International, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravi Chandran, Dave G. Newport, Daniel A. Burciaga, Daniel Michael Leo