Patents by Inventor Dennis Keith Chapman

Dennis Keith Chapman 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: 11311022
    Abstract: A method for producing a mixture of oil and fluid food product includes placing a funnel into a pressure tank such that a stem of the funnel extends at least halfway down into the pressure tank. The pressure tank is flushed with nitrogen. Oil flows into the pressure tank through the funnel. A flow of nitrogen into the pressure tank is maintained through a side inlet of the pressure tank. Oil is dispensed from a pressure tank into the transfer line flowing a flow of fluid food product from a batch tank. The dispensed oil is dispersed into the flow of fluid food product in a inline shear mixer creating oil-in-fluid food product droplets. The oil-in-fluid food product droplets flow to the batch tank with the flow of fluid food product. The oil-in-fluid food product droplets are distributed in a volume of fluid food product in the batch tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: WHITEWAVE SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Elle Ann Clarke, Dennis Keith Chapman, Gary Thomas Jerger
  • Patent number: 10279322
    Abstract: An apparatus for distributing oil into fluid food product includes a batch tank, a transfer line, a pressure tank, a funnel, an oil dispenser, an inline shear mixer, and a flow line. The batch tank holds a volume of fluid food product. The transfer line is in fluid connection with the batch tank. The pressure tank holds a volume of oil. The funnel is disposed through a top opening in the pressure tank and dispenses oil into the pressure tank. A stem portion of the funnel extends at least halfway into an interior of the pressure tank. The funnel includes at least one vent. The oil dispenser dispenses oil from the pressure tank into a flow of fluid food product from the batch tank. The inline shear mixer mixes the fluid food product and the oil. The flow line flows the fluid food product-and-oil mixture to the batch tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: WhiteWave Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Elle Ann Clarke, Dennis Keith Chapman, Gary Thomas Jerger
  • Publication number: 20180235250
    Abstract: A method for producing a mixture of oil and fluid food product includes placing a funnel into a pressure tank such that a stem of the funnel extends at least halfway down into the pressure tank. The pressure tank is flushed with nitrogen. Oil flows into the pressure tank through the funnel. A flow of nitrogen into the pressure tank is maintained through a side inlet of the pressure tank. Oil is dispensed from a pressure tank into the transfer line flowing a flow of fluid food product from a batch tank. The dispensed oil is dispersed into the flow of fluid food product in a inline shear mixer creating oil-in-fluid food product droplets. The oil-in-fluid food product droplets flow to the batch tank with the flow of fluid food product. The oil-in-fluid food product droplets are distributed in a volume of fluid food product in the batch tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventors: Elle Ann Clarke, Dennis Keith Chapman, Gary Thomas Jerger
  • Publication number: 20180236418
    Abstract: An apparatus for distributing oil into fluid food product includes a batch tank, a transfer line, a pressure tank, a funnel, an oil dispenser, an inline shear mixer, and a flow line. The batch tank holds a volume of fluid food product. The transfer line is in fluid connection with the batch tank. The pressure tank holds a volume of oil. The funnel is disposed through a top opening in the pressure tank and dispenses oil into the pressure tank. A stem portion of the funnel extends at least halfway into an interior of the pressure tank. The funnel includes at least one vent. The oil dispenser dispenses oil from the pressure tank into a flow of fluid food product from the batch tank. The inline shear mixer mixes the fluid food product and the oil. The flow line flows the fluid food product-and-oil mixture to the batch tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Publication date: August 23, 2018
    Inventors: Elle Ann Clarke, Dennis Keith Chapman, Gary Thomas Jerger