Patents by Inventor David T. Lakin

David T. Lakin 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: 20240043581
    Abstract: A process for producing an olefin polymer employs a gas phase polymerization reactor in fluid communication with a vent column and a product discharge system. The discharge system can include first and second pairs of lock hoppers, where each pair includes an upstream lock hopper connected by a valve to the reactor and a downstream lock hopper connected by a valve to the upstream lock hopper and by a further valve to a product recovery system, and where a first cross-tie can be provided between the upstream lock hoppers of the first and second pairs of lock hoppers and a second cross-tie can be provided between the downstream lock hoppers of the first and second pairs of lock hoppers. Upon reaching the vent column's maximum removal capacity, additional gas can be removed from the reactor by reducing the frequency of opening the second cross-tie between the downstream lock hoppers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: Nathaniel B. GUY, Stacy N. OLALEYE, Michael D. LUCAS, Handel D. BENNETT, David T. LAKIN, Benjamin J. OHRAN, Aaron C. MCGINNIS
  • Patent number: 11492422
    Abstract: A process for producing an olefin polymer employs a gas phase polymerization reactor having a product discharge system comprising first and second pairs of lock hoppers, wherein each pair comprises an upstream lock hopper connected by valve means to the reactor and a downstream lock hopper connected by valve means to the upstream lock hopper and by further valve means to a product recovery system, and wherein a first cross-tie is provided between the upstream lock hoppers of the first and second pairs of lock hoppers and a second cross-tie is provided between the downstream lock hoppers of the first and second pairs of lock hoppers. Operation of the second cross-tie during product removal cycles is controlled in accordance with reactor pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Lucas, Handel D. Bennett, David T. Lakin, Aaron C. McGinnis, Benjamin J. Ohran, David J. Sandell
  • Publication number: 20210079126
    Abstract: A process for producing an olefin polymer employs a gas phase polymerization reactor having a product discharge system comprising first and second pairs of lock hoppers, wherein each pair comprises an upstream lock hopper connected by valve means to the reactor and a downstream lock hopper connected by valve means to the upstream lock hopper and by further valve means to a product recovery system, and wherein a first cross-tie is provided between the upstream lock hoppers of the first and second pairs of lock hoppers and a second cross-tie is provided between the downstream lock hoppers of the first and second pairs of lock hoppers. Operation of the second cross-tie during product removal cycles is controlled in accordance with reactor pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Michael D. Lucas, Handel D. Bennett, David T. Lakin, Aaron C. McGinnis, Benjamin J. Ohran, David J. Sandell