Patents by Inventor Gary L. Roberts
Gary L. Roberts 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).
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Patent number: 7632320Abstract: The present invention is a chemical reactor and method for catalytic chemical reactions having gas phase reactants. The chemical reactor has reactor microchannels for flow of at least one reactant and at least one product, and a catalyst material wherein the at least one reactant contacts the catalyst material and reacts to form the at least one product. The improvement, according to the present invention is: the catalyst material is on a porous material having a porosity that resists bulk flow therethrough and permits molecular diffusion therein. The porous material further has a length, a width and a thickness, the porous material defining at least a portion of one wall of a bulk flow path through which the at least one reactant passes.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2005Date of Patent: December 15, 2009Assignee: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Anna Lee Y. Tonkovich, Yong Wang, Sean P. Fitzgerald, Jennifer L. Marco, Gary L. Roberts, David P. Vanderwiel, Robert S. Wegeng
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Patent number: 7288231Abstract: The present invention provides chemical reactors and reaction chambers and methods for conducting catalytic chemical reactions having gas phase reactants. In preferred embodiments, these reaction chambers and methods include at least one porous catalyst material that has pore sizes large enough to permit molecular diffusion within the porous catalyst material.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2003Date of Patent: October 30, 2007Assignee: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Anna Lee Y. Tonkovich, Yong Wang, Sean P. Fitzgerald, Jennifer L. Marco, Gary L. Roberts, David P. VanderWiel, Robert S. Wegeng
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Patent number: 6984363Abstract: The present invention is a chemical reactor for catalytic chemical reactions having gas phase reactants. The chemical reactor has reactor microchannels for flow of at least one reactant and at least one product, and a catalyst material wherein the at least one reactant contacts the catalyst material and reacts to form the at least one product. The improvement, according to the present invention is: the catalyst material is on a porous material having a porosity that resists bulk flow therethrough and permits molecular diffusion therein. The porous material further has a length, a width and a thickness, the porous material defining at least a portion of one wall of a bulk flow path through which the at least one reactant passes.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2002Date of Patent: January 10, 2006Assignee: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Anna Lee Y. Tonkovich, Yong Wang, Sean P. Fitzgerald, Jennifer L. Marco, Gary L. Roberts, David P. Vanderwiel, Robert S. Wegeng
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Patent number: 6969506Abstract: Integrated Combustion Reactors (ICRs) and methods of making ICRs are described in which combustion chambers (or channels) are in direct thermal contact to reaction chambers for an endothermic reaction. Superior results were achieved for combustion chambers which contained a gap for free flow through the chamber. Particular reactor designs are also described. Processes of conducting reactions in integrated combustion reactors are described and results presented. Some of these processes are characterized by unexpected and superior results.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2002Date of Patent: November 29, 2005Assignee: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Anna Lee Tonkovich, Gary L. Roberts, Steven T. Perry, Sean P. Fitzgerald
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Publication number: 20040105812Abstract: The present invention provides chemical reactors and reaction chambers and methods for conducting catalytic chemical reactions having gas phase reactants. In preferred embodiments, these reaction chambers and methods include at least one porous catalyst material that has pore sizes large enough to permit molecular diffusion within the porous catalyst material.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2003Publication date: June 3, 2004Inventors: Anna Lee Y. Tonkovich, Yong Wang, Sean P. Fitzgerald, Jennifer L. Marco, Gary L. Roberts, David P. VanderWiel, Robert S. Wegeng
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Patent number: 6680044Abstract: The present invention provides chemical reactors and reaction chambers and methods for conducting catalytic chemical reactions having gas phase reactants. In preferred embodiments, these reaction chambers and methods include at least one porous catalyst material that has pore sizes large enough to permit molecular diffusion within the porous catalyst material.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2000Date of Patent: January 20, 2004Assignee: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Anna Lee Y. Tonkovich, Yong Wang, Sean P. Fitzgerald, Jennifer L. Marco, Gary L. Roberts, David P. VanderWiel, Robert S. Wegeng
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Publication number: 20030031613Abstract: The present invention is a chemical reactor and method for catalytic chemical reactions having gas phase reactants. The chemical reactor has reactor microchannels for flow of at least one reactant and at least one product, and a catalyst material wherein the at least one reactant contacts the catalyst material and reacts to form the at least one product. The improvement, according to the present invention is: the catalyst material is on a porous material having a porosity that resists bulk flow therethrough and permits molecular diffusion therein. The porous material further has a length, a width and a thickness, the porous material defining at least a portion of one wall of a bulk flow path through which the at least one reactant passes.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2002Publication date: February 13, 2003Inventors: Anna Lee Y. Tonkovich, Yong Wang, Sean P. Fitzgerald, Jennifer L. Marco, Gary L. Roberts, David P. Vanderwiel, Robert S. Wegeng
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Patent number: 6490812Abstract: The present invention is an active microchannel fluid processing unit and method of making, both relying on having (a) at least one inner thin sheet; (b) at least one outer thin sheet; (c) defining at least one first sub-assembly for performing at least one first unit operation by stacking a first of the at least one inner thin sheet in alternating contact with a first of the at least one outer thin sheet into a first stack and placing an end block on the at least one inner thin sheet, the at least one first sub-assembly having at least a first inlet and a first outlet; and (d) defining at least one second sub-assembly for performing at least one second unit operation either as a second flow path within the first stack or by stacking a second of the at least one inner thin sheet in alternating contact with second of the at least one outer thin sheet as a second stack, the at least one second sub-assembly having at least a second inlet and a second outlet.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2000Date of Patent: December 10, 2002Assignee: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Wendy D. Bennett, Peter M. Martin, Dean W. Matson, Gary L. Roberts, Donald C. Stewart, Annalee Y. Tonkovich, Jennifer L. Zilka, Stephen C. Schmitt, Timothy M. Werner
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Patent number: 6488838Abstract: The present invention is a chemical reactor and method for catalytic chemical reactions having gas phase reactants. The chemical reactor has reactor microchannels for flow of at least one reactant and at least one product, and a catalyst material wherein the at least one reactant contacts the catalyst material and reacts to form the at least one product. The improvement, according to the present invention is: the catalyst material is on a porous material having a porosity that resists bulk flow therethrough and permits molecular diffusion therein. The porous material further has a length, a width and a thickness, the porous material defining at least a portion of one wall of a bulk flow path through which the at least one reactant passes.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 1999Date of Patent: December 3, 2002Assignee: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Anna Lee Y. Tonkovich, Yong Wang, Sean P. Fitzgerald, Jennifer L. Marco, Gary L. Roberts, David P. Vanderwiel, Robert S. Wegeng
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Patent number: 6200536Abstract: The present invention is an active microchannel heat exchanger with an active heat source and with microchannel architecture. The active microchannel heat exchanger has (a) an exothermic reaction chamber; (b) an exhaust chamber; and (c) a heat exchanger chamber in thermal contact with the exhaust chamber, wherein (d) heat from the exothermic reaction chamber is convected by an exothermic reaction exhaust through the exhaust chamber and by conduction through a containment wall to the working fluid in the heat exchanger chamber thereby raising a temperature of the working fluid. The invention is particularly useful as a liquid fuel vaporizer and/or a steam generator for fuel cell power systems, and as a heat source for sustaining endothermic chemical reactions and initiating exothermic reactions.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 1997Date of Patent: March 13, 2001Assignee: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Anna Lee Y. Tonkovich, Gary L. Roberts, Charles J. Call, Robert S. Wegeng, Yong Wang
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Patent number: 6192596Abstract: The present invention is an active microchannel fluid processing unit and method of making, both relying on having (a) at least one inner thin sheet; (b) at least one outer thin sheet; (c) defining at least one first sub-assembly for performing at least one first unit operation by stacking a first of the at least one inner thin sheet in alternating contact with a first of the at least one outer thin sheet into a first stack and placing an end block on the at least one inner thin sheet, the at least one first sub-assembly having at least a first inlet and a first outlet; and (d) defining at least one second sub-assembly for performing at least one second unit operation either as a second flow path within the first stack or by stacking a second of the at least one inner thin sheet in alternating contact with second of the at least one outer thin sheet as a second stack, the at least one second sub-assembly having at least a second inlet and a second outlet.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 1999Date of Patent: February 27, 2001Assignee: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Wendy D. Bennett, Peter M. Martin, Dean W. Matson, Gary L. Roberts, Donald C. Stewart, Annalee Y. Tonkovich, Jennifer L. Zilka, Stephen C. Schmitt, Timothy M. Werner
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Patent number: 4854107Abstract: An elongated sheet metal corner framing element is provided having an essentially "E" shaped cross-sectional area. The center point of the "E" is longer than the end points and one section of the "E" is configured to engage a flange of an H- or I-beam structural member. The other section of the "E" extends from the structural beam and forms a squared open corner section along the entire beam length for attachment of wallboard thereto. The extra length center point of the "E" configuration permits shooting (with power driven pins or nails) of the corner element to the beam at spaced intervals along the element length where more than a frictional fit is desired or required. The corner element may be cold-rolled, extruded, or formed of a flat or square bottom U-channel with an uneven side sheet metal angle attached therein via spot welding or metal screws.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 1988Date of Patent: August 8, 1989Inventor: Gary L. Roberts