Patents by Inventor David SWART

David SWART 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: 9580657
    Abstract: A carbonaceous feed pyrolysis apparatus is provided including two or more hot particle fluidized beds, and one or more positive displacement apparatus for the transfer of hot particles between two or more of the beds, wherein one or more of the fluidized beds contains a combustion zone. A bio-oil production process is also provided, including pyrolysis of a carbonaceous bio-mass using two or more fluidized beds, including a first combustion zone carried out in one or more combustion fluidized beds in which a particulate material is fluidized and heated, and a second pyrolysis zone carried out in one or more pyrolysis fluidized beds in which the hot particles heated in the combustion zone are used for pyrolysis of the bio-mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignees: University of Pretoria, The United States, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture
    Inventors: Michael David Heydenrych, Stephen David Swart, Akwasi Acheampong Boateng
  • Patent number: 8817044
    Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for blending overlapping images are provided. Image areas mapped to a common image space that includes a blend region: fixed image values are assigned to areas outside the blend region. Pixels from the blend region are iteratively sampled in the common image space, and for each respective sampled pixel corresponding to the sampled pixel in a respective image area: a value of the respective sampled pixel is changed to an average of neighbouring pixel values in the respective image area; and, when each respective sampled pixel in each of the at least two image spaces is changed to the average of the neighbouring pixels, each averaged respective sampled pixel value is normalize to a blended value, wherein iterations are repeated until a convergence criteria is met. One or more blend masks is output, each comprising at least normalized blended pixel values in the blend region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Christie Digital Systems USA, Inc.
    Inventor: David Swart
  • Publication number: 20140008205
    Abstract: A carbonaceous feed pyrolysis apparatus is provided including two or more hot particle fluidised beds, and one or more positive displacement apparatus for the transfer of hot particles between two or more of the beds, wherein one or more of the fluidised beds contains a combustion zone. A bio-oil production process is also provided, including pyrolysis of a carbonaceous bio-mass using two or more fluidized beds, including a first combustion zone carried out in one or more combustion fluidized beds in which a particulate material is fluidized and heated, and a second pyrolysis zone carried out in one or more pyrolysis fluidized beds in which the hot particles heated in the combustion zone are used for pyrolysis of the bio-mass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA
    Inventors: Michael David Heydenrych, Stephen David Swart, Akwasi Acheampong Boateng
  • Publication number: 20130328860
    Abstract: A method, system and apparatus, for blending overlapping images are provided. Image areas mapped to a common image space that includes a blend region: fixed image values are assigned to areas outside the blend region. Pixels from the blend region are iteratively sampled in the common image space, and for each respective sampled pixel corresponding to the sampled pixel in a respective image area: a value of the respective sampled pixel is changed to an average of neighbouring pixel values in the respective image area; and, when each respective sampled pixel in each of the at least two image spaces is changed to the average of the neighbouring pixels, each averaged respective sampled pixel value is normalize to a blended value, wherein iterations are repeated until a convergence criteria is met. One or more blend masks is output, each comprising at least normalized blended pixel values in the blend region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Applicant: CHRISTIE DIGITAL SYSTEMS USA, INC.
    Inventor: David SWART
  • Publication number: 20090094887
    Abstract: Methods and compositions for improving stability of biodiesel fuel. The methods comprise adding to said biodiesel fuel, an effective amount of a combined treatment that includes a (I) hindered phenol and (II) a Mannich reaction product. The compositions comprise I and II dissolved or dispersed in an organic solvent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nancy R. Calvert, Glenn V. Kenreck, JR., David A. Swart