Patents by Inventor James R. Butler

James R. Butler 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: 10252957
    Abstract: Methods and systems for the dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons include a direct contact condenser to remove compounds from an offgas process stream. The reduction of compounds can decrease duty on the offgas compressor by removing steam and aromatics from the offgas. The dehydrogenation reaction system can be applicable for reactions such as the dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene to produce styrene, the dehydrogenation of isoamiline to produce isoprene, or the dehydrogenation of n-pentene to produce piperylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: FINA TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Vincent A Welch, James R Butler
  • Patent number: 10046202
    Abstract: A motorized exercise apparatus for use with a power source comprising an exercise apparatus having a power supply configured to be connected to the power source. An electronically commutated motor is configured to drive the exercise apparatus. A controller is configured to connect a power supply to the motor to selectively energize the motor to drive the exercise apparatus and including an emergency stop feature. The controller selectively actuates the motor and disables activation of the motor when the emergency stop feature is actuated. An additional motor driven by the apparatus is configured to cause a dynamic braking action to slow the apparatus when the power source is disabled or when the emergency feature is actuated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Digital Concepts of Missouri, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Butler, Jr., Jack Greenwood, Paul Decker
  • Patent number: 10016735
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for adding an alkali metal promoter into steam and contacting the solution with a dehydrogenation catalyst during a dehydrogenation reaction is disclosed. The apparatus has a first conduit capable of transporting an alkali metal salt solution and a second conduit in fluid communication with the first conduit, the second conduit capable of transporting steam so that the alkali metal salt is dissipated into the steam prior to entry into a dehydrogenation reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: FINA TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: James R. Butler, Joseph E. Pelati
  • Patent number: 10019573
    Abstract: Detecting executable machine instructions in a data stream is accomplished by accessing a plurality of values representing data contained within a memory of a computer system and performing pre-processing on the plurality of values to produce a candidate data subset. The pre-processing may include determining whether the plurality of values meets (a) a randomness condition, (b) a length condition, and/or (c) a string ratio condition. The candidate data subset is inspected for computer instructions, characteristics of the computer instructions are determined, and a predetermined action is taken based on the characteristics of the computer instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: FireEye, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter J. Silberman, James R. Butler, Nick J. Harbour
  • Patent number: 10005046
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for vaporizing and transporting an alkali metal salt is shown. The apparatus has a first conduit capable of transporting an alkali metal salt solution and a second conduit in fluid communication with the first conduit, the second conduit capable of transporting steam so that the alkali metal salt is dissipated into the steam forming a solution that can be transported, such as to a remote reaction zone. The solution can be transported via a third conduit that is capable of being heated by a heat source. The method can be used to add a promoter to a dehydrogenation catalyst during a dehydrogenation reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: FINA TECHNOLOGY, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph E. Pelati, James R. Butler, Hollie Craig
  • Publication number: 20170217857
    Abstract: Methods and systems for the dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons include a direct contact condenser to remove compounds from an offgas process stream. The reduction of compounds can decrease duty on the offgas compressor by removing steam and aromatics from the offgas. The dehydrogenation reaction system can be applicable for reactions such as the dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene to produce styrene, the dehydrogenation of isoamiline to produce isoprene, or the dehydrogenation of n-pentene to produce piperylene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Vincent A. Welch, James R. Butler
  • Patent number: 9650317
    Abstract: Methods and systems for the dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons include a direct contact condenser to remove compounds from an offgas process stream. The reduction of compounds can decrease duty on the offgas compressor by removing steam and aromatics from the offgas. The dehydrogenation reaction system can be applicable for reactions such as the dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene to produce styrene, the dehydrogenation of isoamiline to produce isoprene, or the dehydrogenation of n-pentene to produce piperylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Fina Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent A. Welch, James R. Butler
  • Patent number: 9556084
    Abstract: Alkylation systems and methods of minimizing alkylation catalyst regeneration are described herein. The alkylation systems generally include a preliminary alkylation system adapted to receive an input stream including an alkyl aromatic hydrocarbon and contact the input stream with a preliminary alkylation catalyst disposed therein to form a first output stream. The preliminary alkylation catalyst generally includes a zeolite catalyst having a SiO2/Al2O3 ratio of less than about 25. The alkylation systems further include a first alkylation system adapted to receive the first output stream and contact the first output stream with a first alkylation catalyst disposed therein and an alkylating agent to form a second output stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: FINA TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: James R. Butler, Xin Xiao, James T. Merrill
  • Publication number: 20170001075
    Abstract: A motorized exercise apparatus for use with a power source comprising an exercise apparatus having a power supply configured to be connected to the power source. An electronically commutated motor is configured to drive the exercise apparatus. A controller is configured to connect a power supply to the motor to selectively energize the motor to drive the exercise apparatus and including an emergency stop feature. The controller selectively actuates the motor and disables activation of the motor when the emergency stop feature is actuated. An additional motor driven by the apparatus is configured to cause a dynamic braking action to slow the apparatus when the power source is disabled or when the emergency feature is actuated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: James R. Butler, Jr., Jack Greenwood, Paul Decker
  • Patent number: 9469576
    Abstract: Methods of forming ethylbenzene are described herein. In one embodiment, the method includes contacting dilute ethylene with benzene in the presence of an alkylation catalyst to form ethylbenzene, wherein such contact occurs in a reaction zone containing a gaseous phase and recovering ethylbenzene from the reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: FINA TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: James R. Butler
  • Patent number: 9394492
    Abstract: Petrochemical processes, including reforming processes are described herein. The reforming processes generally include introducing an input stream to a reforming unit having a reforming catalyst disposed therein, wherein the input stream includes a naphtha having an N+2A value of from about 65 to about 85 and contacting the input stream with the reforming catalyst and hydrogen to form an output stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Inventors: Simon Hamper, James R. Butler
  • Patent number: 9272962
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for making styrene by converting methanol to formaldehyde in a reactor then reacting the formaldehyde with toluene to form styrene in a separate reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: FINA TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: James R. Butler, Joseph E. Pelati
  • Publication number: 20160052839
    Abstract: Alkylation systems and processes are described herein. The alkylation system generally includes a preliminary alkylation system containing a preliminary alkylation catalyst therein and adapted to contact an aromatic compound and an alkylating agent with the preliminary alkylation catalyst so as to alkylate the aromatic compound and form a preliminary output stream, wherein the preliminary alkylation system includes a first preliminary alkylation reactor and a second preliminary alkylation reactor connected in parallel to the first preliminary alkylation reactor and a primary alkylation system adapted to receive the preliminary output stream and contact the preliminary output stream and the alkylating agent with a primary alkylation catalyst disposed therein so as to form a primary output stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventor: James R. Butler
  • Patent number: 9249277
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making a polystyrene based nanocomposite by combining a monomer with a nanoparticle to form a mixture and subjecting the mixture to polymerization conditions to produce a polymeric composite. In an embodiment the nanoparticle has been treated with an additive prior to combining with the monomer and the additive contains a silane moiety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Fina Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Butler, David W. Knoeppel
  • Patent number: 9227887
    Abstract: A method for the oxidative coupling of hydrocarbons, such as the oxidative coupling of methane to toluene, includes providing an oxidative catalyst inside a reactor, and carrying out the oxidative coupling reaction under a set of reaction conditions. The oxidative catalyst includes (A) at least one element selected from the group consisting of the Lanthanoid group, Mg, Ca, and the elements of Group 4 of the periodic table (Ti, Zr, and Hf); (B) at least one element selected from the group consisting of the Group 1 elements of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, and the elements of Group 3 (including La and Ac) and Groups 5-15 of the periodic table; (C) at least one element selected from the group consisting of the Group 1 elements of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, and the elements Ca, Sr, and Ba; and (D) oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: FINA TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Sivadinarayana Chinta, Joseph L. Thorman, James R. Butler, Joe Hunter, Taylor Rives
  • Publication number: 20150328609
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for adding an alkali metal promoter into steam and contacting the solution with a dehydrogenation catalyst during a dehydrogenation reaction is disclosed. The apparatus has a first conduit capable of transporting an alkali metal salt solution and a second conduit in fluid communication with the first conduit, the second conduit capable of transporting steam so that the alkali metal salt is dissipated into the steam prior to entry into a dehydrogenation reaction zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: James R. Butler, Joseph E. Pelati
  • Patent number: 9138706
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for adding an alkali metal promoter into steam and contacting the solution with a dehydrogenation catalyst during a dehydrogenation reaction is disclosed. The apparatus has a first conduit capable of transporting an alkali metal salt solution and a second conduit in fluid communication with the first conduit, the second conduit capable of transporting steam so that the alkali metal salt is dissipated into the steam prior to entry into a dehydrogenation reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: FINA TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: James R. Butler, Joseph E. Pelati
  • Publication number: 20150239805
    Abstract: Methods and systems for the dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons include a direct contact condenser to remove compounds from an offgas process stream. The reduction of compounds can decrease duty on the offgas compressor by removing steam and aromatics from the offgas. The dehydrogenation reaction system can be applicable for reactions such as the dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene to produce styrene, the dehydrogenation of isoamiline to produce isoprene, or the dehydrogenation of n-pentene to produce piperylene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Inventors: Vincent A. Welch, James R. Butler
  • Patent number: 9115315
    Abstract: Petrochemical processes, including reforming processes are described herein. The reforming processes generally include introducing an input stream to a reforming unit having a reforming catalyst disposed therein, wherein the input stream includes a naphtha having an N+2A value of from about 65 to about 85 and contacting the input stream with the reforming catalyst and hydrogen to form an output stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: FINA TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: James R. Butler
  • Publication number: 20150191662
    Abstract: Petrochemical processes, including reforming processes are described herein. The reforming processes generally include introducing an input stream to a reforming unit having a reforming catalyst disposed therein, wherein the input stream includes a naphtha having an N+2A value of from about 65 to about 85 and contacting the input stream with the reforming catalyst and hydrogen to form an output stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Inventors: Simon Hamper, James R. Butler