Patents by Inventor James S. Hoffman

James S. Hoffman 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: 8500854
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a CO2 absorption method using an amine-based solid sorbent for the removal of carbon dioxide from a gas stream. The method disclosed mitigates the impact of water loading on regeneration by utilizing a conditioner following the steam regeneration process, providing for a water loading on the amine-based solid sorbent following CO2 absorption substantially equivalent to the moisture loading of the regeneration process. This assists in optimizing the CO2 removal capacity of the amine-based solid sorbent for a given absorption and regeneration reactor size. Management of the water loading in this manner allows regeneration reactor operation with significant mitigation of energy losses incurred by the necessary desorption of adsorbed water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: U.S. Department of Energy
    Inventors: Henry W. Pennline, James S. Hoffman, McMahan L. Gray, Daniel J. Fauth, Kevin P. Resnik
  • Patent number: 6387337
    Abstract: A process to remove carbon dioxide from a gas stream using a cross-flow, or a moving-bed reactor. In the reactor the gas contacts an active material that is an alkali-metal compound, such as an alkali-metal carbonate, alkali-metal oxide, or alkali-metal hydroxide; or in the alternative, an alkaline-earth metal compound, such as an alkaline-earth metal carbonate, alkaline-earth metal oxide, or alkaline-earth metal hydroxide. The active material can be used by itself or supported on a substrate of carbon, alumina, silica, titania or aluminosilicate. When the active material is an alkali-metal compound, the carbon-dioxide reacts with the metal compound to generate bicarbonate. When the active material is an alkaline-earth metal, the carbon dioxide reacts with the metal compound to generate carbonate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Henry W. Pennline, James S. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 4440706
    Abstract: A ceramic insulator body for receiving and electrically isolating two parallel terminal rods is manufactured by radial isostatic compaction of a ceramic powder about a core member having an hourglass cross section. The core member produces a bore comprising two parallel terminal-receiving channels connected by a constricted passage that is sized and shaped to space apart two terminal rods in the channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1984
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: James S. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 4403207
    Abstract: A durable automotive exhaust gas oxygen sensor comprises a ceramic sleeve defining a bore and a titania pellet positioned in the bore against a shoulder thereof. Terminal rods and at least one spacer within the bore securely hold the pellet against the shoulder. The rods, spacer and sleeve are bonded together into a unified assembly by a fused glass seal within the bore that is spaced apart from the pellet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1983
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Michael P. Murphy, James S. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 4381164
    Abstract: A hoist includes an upper support plate connected to a lower guide plate by two sliding rods. The hoist is designed for lifting a plurality of elongated articles, such as projectiles, by hooking each article onto a fastener attached to the lower surface of the upper support plate with the article extending through one of several holes in the lower guide plate. The holes in the lower guide plate serve to keep the articles from banging together. Springs may be used to bias the upper support plate towards the lower guide plate. An associated method of using the hoist is especially well-suited for moving projectiles between pallets having different center-to-center or projectile separation distances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1983
    Assignee: Harsco Corporation
    Inventors: Richard A. Koster, James S. Hoffman