Patents by Inventor Gary Tietavainen

Gary Tietavainen 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: 6168708
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a method for recovering and recycling a hydrocarbon residue from a petroleum material such as crude oil, where the hydrocarbon residue is a waxy solid material. The method comprises providing the hydrocarbon residue in a first vessel; heating a sufficient amount of an organic solvent in a second vessel at an effective temperature for an effective period of time; removing the hydrocarbon residue from the first vessel and adding the hydrocarbon residue to the heated solvent in the second vessel; simultaneously mixing and heating the hydrocarbon residue and the solvent in the second vessel at an effective temperature for an effective period of time to cause a reaction between the hydrocarbon residue and the solvent to produce a liquefied hydrocarbon residue product; pumping the liquefied hydrocarbon residue product out of the second vessel and into a third vessel; and, recycling the liquefied hydrocarbon residue into a usable oil refinery product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventors: Carol S. Burbridge, George W. Johnson, John P. Nakamura, Gary Tietavainen