Patents by Inventor Edward P. Browne

Edward P. Browne 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: 20120016048
    Abstract: The present invention provides flexible conventional polyurethane foams made from at least one polyisocyanate and at least one vegetable oil alkoxylated in the presence of a double metal cyanide (DMC) catalyst, optionally at least one non-vegetable oil-based polyol, generally in the presence of a blowing agent and optionally in the presence of a surfactant, pigment, flame retardant, catalyst or filler. The alkoxylated natural oil must have (a) an ethylene oxide content in the alkoxylated segment greater than 20% by weight, (b) a primary hydroxyl group content of at least 10%, with the sum of (a)+(b) being at least 30% but no greater than 60%, The alkoxylated natural oils are environmentally-friendly, bio-based polyols which can be used to increase the “green” content of polyurethane foams without having detrimental effects on foam properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: Bayer MaterialScience LLC
    Inventors: Stanley L. Hager, Edward P. Browne, Jack R. Reese, Don S. Wardius, Micah N. Moore
  • Publication number: 20100324340
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the polyoxyalkylation of a starter involving establishing oxyalkylation conditions in an oxyalkylation reactor in the presence of a double metal cyanide (DMC) catalyst, continuously introducing into the reactor at least one alkylene oxide and an acidified, ultra-low water content starter, in which the starter contains greater than about 100 ppm and less than or equal to about 500 ppm water, based on the weight of the starter, and recovering an oxyalkylated low molecular weight starter polyether product. The inventive process allows the production of short chain polyether polyols which have hydroxyl numbers of from greater than 250 up to about 500, from hygroscopic initiators, such as glycerin, without DMC catalyst deactivation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: Bayer MaterialScience LLC
    Inventors: Jose F. Pazos, Edward P. Browne, Anthony Loveday
  • Publication number: 20100234647
    Abstract: The process of the present invention provides for the manufacture of lower molecular weight DMC-catalyzed polyols than is possible using non-acidified continuous addition of starter (CAOS) feeds, by adding excess acid to a starter feed stream over that required for mere neutralization of the basicity of the starter. The benefits of the invention also extend to starters which do not contain basicity. Polyether polyols made by the inventive process may be used to produce improved polyurethane products such as coatings, adhesives, sealants, elastomers, foams and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: Bayer MaterialScience LLC
    Inventor: Edward P. Browne
  • Patent number: 7323605
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the double metal cyanide (DMC)-catalyzed production of low unsaturation polyethers from boron-containing starters. The polyethers produced by the inventive process may be reacted with one or more isocyanates to provide polyurethane products including coatings, adhesives, sealants, elastomers, foams and the like. The inventive process may be used to prepare fuel additives from C9-C30 boron-containing polyethers, more particularly from C13 alcohols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Bayer MaterialScience LLC
    Inventors: Jose F. Pazos, Kenneth G. McDaniel, Edward P. Browne, George G. Combs, Don S. Wardius
  • Publication number: 20080021191
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for the production of a polyether involving establishing oxyalkylation conditions in an oxyalkylation reactor in the presence of from about 5 ppm to about 1,000 ppm, based on the final polyether weight, of a double metal cyanide (DMC) catalyst, continuously introducing into the reactor at least one alkylene oxide and a low molecular weight starter having a number average molecular weight of less than about 300 Daltons (Da) containing from about 200 ppm to about 5,000 ppm water and acidified with from about 10 ppm to about 2,000 ppm of at least one of an inorganic protic mineral acid and an organic acid, and recovering a polyether product having a number average molecular weight of from about 200 Da to about 4,000 Da, wherein the ppm (parts per million) of water and acid are based on the weight of the low molecular weight starter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventors: Jack R. Reese, Edward P. Browne, Jose F. Pazos
  • Patent number: 7001634
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for suppressing the foaming of an aqueous system which involves combining water and at least one defoamer composition which has a hydroxyl equivalent molecular weight of at least 4000 Da and a cloud point less than or equal to 30° C. in 1% aqueous solution. The high hydroxyl equivalent molecular weight defoamers of the present invention exhibit excellent defoaming properties at a low cloud point. Additionally, defoamers of the present invention exhibit defoaming properties which are better than those of defoamers having the same cloud point which are based on polyoxyalkylene copolymers prepared in the presence of potassium hydroxide. The superior defoaming properties of the defoamers of the present invention are particularly useful in the manufacture or processing of food items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Bayer Materialscience LLC
    Inventor: Edward P. Browne
  • Publication number: 20040091592
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for suppressing the foaming of an aqueous system which involves combining water and at least one defoamer composition which has a hydroxyl equivalent molecular weight of at least 4000 Da and a cloud point less than or equal to 30° C. in 1% aqueous solution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2002
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventor: Edward P. Browne