Patents by Inventor Frank F. McKay, Jr.

Frank F. McKay, Jr. 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: 4192656
    Abstract: In a system in which compressed ethylene is scheduled to flow through pipes, and in which there is danger of decomposition of ethylene and danger of the spreading of a reaction boundary of the exothermic decomposition reaction, a method and means are provided for quenching the advancement of the decomposition. Ethylene is directed from large diameter pipes into an array of spaced apart small diameter tubes which are not overheated when subjected to the combination of head and tail boundaries of the advancing plug of decomposition products. Such overheating of the tubes by the leading and trailing flames can be prevented by cooling the exterior of the tubes with a fluid normally maintained at about ambient temperature, thereby cooling the compressed ethylene sufficiently to quench the decomposition reaction. The cooling fluid is desirably an aqueous system adapted to be converted to steam under severe conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1980
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventors: G. Richard Worrell, Frank F. McKay, Jr.