Patents by Inventor Jean-Francois Leon
Jean-Francois Leon 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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Publication number: 20160312107Abstract: The invention relates to a method for fracturing underground rock. The method involves injecting a fracturing fluid into a well. Said fluid comprises at least 30% volume of carbon dioxide in liquid form, at least 20 volume % of carbon dioxide in a solid form, and at least 10% volume of liquefied hydrocarbon gas.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 10, 2014Publication date: October 27, 2016Inventor: Jean-François Leon
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Patent number: 9394776Abstract: A method of inducing fracture in at least a portion of a geologic structure includes inducing acoustic waves into a fluid medium present in a borehole extending at least partially into the structure. Embodiments may include preheating or pressurizing the fluid medium prior to inducing the acoustic wave therein. A device for fracturing at least a portion of a geologic structure includes electrodes for producing a spark to generate ordinary acoustic waves in the fluid medium. Embodiments may include structures for preheating or pressurizing the fluid medium prior to inducing the acoustic wave therein.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2013Date of Patent: July 19, 2016Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.Inventors: Jean-Francois Leon, Joseph Henry Fram
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Publication number: 20140166293Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for extending a network of existing fractures in a subterranean formation. This method comprises pumping a first fluid into a pressurized volume to pressurize a compressible fluid in said pressurized volume to a predetermined pressure and releasing a second fluid out of the pressurized volume in a confined volume connected to the existing fractures, the second fluid being released due to a relaxation of the pressurized compressible fluid in the pressurized volume. Moreover, the release of second fluid exerts pressures in the existing fractures exceeding a fracturing threshold of the subterranean formation.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2012Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: TOTAL SAInventor: Jean-François Leon
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Patent number: 8220537Abstract: A method of inducing fracture in at least a portion of a geologic structure includes inducing acoustic waves into a fluid medium present in a borehole extending at least partially into the structure. Embodiments may include preheating or pressurizing the fluid medium prior to inducing the acoustic wave therein. A device for fracturing at least a portion of a geologic structure includes electrodes for producing a spark to generate ordinary acoustic waves in the fluid medium. Embodiments may include structures for preheating or pressurizing the fluid medium prior to inducing the acoustic wave therein.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2008Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.Inventors: Jean-Francois Leon, Joseph Henry Fram
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Publication number: 20110304427Abstract: The invention relates to a closing-in or presence or detection capacitive sensor (6) for locking/unlocking a door leaf (4), in particular for a vehicle. More precisely, the closing-in capacitive sensor is to be integrated into the handle (1) of a door leaf for locking/unlocking the same. The sensor includes at least one electrode and at least one metal shielding member (10) formed on a printed circuit (8) so as to create a detection area (5) for detecting the presence of a user.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2009Publication date: December 15, 2011Applicant: VALEO SECURITE HABITACLEInventors: Jean- Francois Leon, Jean-Michel Tessier
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Publication number: 20110297586Abstract: Separation of bitumen from mined ore employs cooling of the mined ore at a temperature where all the species contained in the ore become solid and brittle. Ore is maintained solid by appropriate continuous injection of cold air and/or carbon dioxide in the processing plant through the process. Difference in thermal expansion coefficient between bitumen and other ore species creates thermal stresses at interfaces of bitumen and other materials. The stresses favor separation of bitumen from other materials along species interfaces during comminution. The breaking of existing ore particles tends to occur at interfaces between different species, creating a mix of particles where bitumen particles are not aggregated with any other ore constituents such as ice or sand particles. The particles are maintained cold, loose and unattached. Ore particles are sorted and separated while still frozen in solid phase, creating a stream of frozen bitumen particles.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2011Publication date: December 8, 2011Inventor: Jean-Francois Leon
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Publication number: 20110044669Abstract: The invention relates to a circuit for controlling a number of DC motors (M1, M2) capable of being controlled independently of one another, comprising, for each motor (M1, M2), an H-bridge (1A, 1B) made up of a first branch (3) and of a second branch (5), which bridge is intended for the control of the associated motor. According to the invention, the said second branches (5) of the H-bridges (1A, 1B) are produced in the form of two switches (7, 9) forming a branch common to all the H-bridges and rated to accept a current equivalent to the sum of the drive currents so that the said motors (M1, M2) can be controlled simultaneously and independently by applying associated control signals to the first branches (3).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2008Publication date: February 24, 2011Applicant: VALEO SECURITE HABITACLEInventor: Jean Francois Leon
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Publication number: 20110011592Abstract: A method of inducing fracture in at least a portion of a geologic structure includes inducing acoustic waves into a fluid medium present in a borehole extending at least partially into the structure. Embodiments may include preheating or pressurizing the fluid medium prior to inducing the acoustic wave therein. A device for fracturing at least a portion of a geologic structure includes electrodes for producing a spark to generate ordinary acoustic waves in the fluid medium. Embodiments may include structures for preheating or pressurizing the fluid medium prior to inducing the acoustic wave therein.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2010Publication date: January 20, 2011Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.Inventors: Jean-François Leon, Joseph Henry Fram
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Publication number: 20090294121Abstract: A method of inducing fracture in at least a portion of a geologic structure includes inducing acoustic waves into a fluid medium present in a borehole extending at least partially into the structure. Embodiments may include preheating or pressurizing the fluid medium prior to inducing the acoustic wave therein. A device for fracturing at least a portion of a geologic structure includes electrodes for producing a spark to generate ordinary acoustic waves in the fluid medium. Embodiments may include structures for preheating or pressurizing the fluid medium prior to inducing the acoustic wave therein.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2008Publication date: December 3, 2009Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.Inventors: Jean-Francois LEON, Joseph Henry Fram
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Publication number: 20060165555Abstract: An intense ultraviolet radiation source is disclosed that may be operated in substantially any arbitrary gas environment, without regard to a containment envelope for the ultraviolet radiation source. The intense ultraviolet radiation source can be generated by applying a pulsed or continuous electrical discharge to a partially ionized combustion flame via two electrodes. The combustion flame and electrical discharge can be focused, contained, or confined by gas pressure, electric fields, and/or magnetic fields. Optionally, the thermal energy in the flame and the electrical discharge power input may be augmented with an electromagnetic radiation source, such as a radio-frequency induction heater, a laser, or a microwave generator. Impurities may be placed in contact with or added to the fuel and/or the oxidizer to further alter the emitted ultraviolet radiation spectral brightness as needed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2006Publication date: July 27, 2006Applicant: ABQ Ultraviolet Pollution Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Rick Spielman, Jean-Francois Leon, Michael Fraim
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Patent number: 6929046Abstract: The present invention relates to a pneumatic tire, specifically to improvements to the bead region of tires designed for runflat operations. The improvements comprise the addition of cavities or indentation (126) on the surface of the bead (127) that contacts the wheel rim (128). In a first embodiment a series of circular cavities (126) are located on the radial innermost surface of the bead in the proximity of the bead toe. In a second embodiment, a continuous groove-like torus cavity (226) is located in the radially innermost surface of the bead in the proximity of the bead toe. The series of cavities or torus cavity increase the adherence of the bead to the rim as a small volume of air at a low pressure, significantly inferior to the atmospheric pressure (air vacuum situation) is trapped in the void spaces created by the cavities or torus cavity and the bead seat.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 1999Date of Patent: August 16, 2005Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventors: Jean François Léon Fontaine, Jean-Marie Jules Joseph Koeune
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Publication number: 20030051990Abstract: An intense ultraviolet radiation source is disclosed that may be operated in substantially any arbitrary gas environment, without regard to a containment envelope for the ultraviolet radiation source. The intense ultraviolet radiation source can be generated by applying a pulsed or continuous electrical discharge to a partially ionized combustion flame via two electrodes. The combustion flame and electrical discharge can be focused, contained, or confined by gas pressure, electric fields, and/or magnetic fields. Optionally, the thermal energy in the flame and the electrical discharge power input may be augmented with an electromagnetic radiation source, such as a radio-frequency induction heater, a laser, or a microwave generator. Impurities may be placed in contact with or added to the fuel and/or the oxidizer to further alter the emitted ultraviolet radiation spectral brightness as needed.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2002Publication date: March 20, 2003Applicant: CRT Holdings, Inc.Inventors: Rick B. Spielman, Jean-Francois Leon, Michael L. Fraim
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Patent number: 6378583Abstract: The present invention relates to an improvement to block-type tread patterns for pneumatic tires (110,210). To balance heel-toe wear, the heels (126,226) of one or more of the blocks are provided with one or more notches (130,230). The application of an appropriate number, shape, and size of notches provides the blocks with a variable net to gross where the void space decreases from the heel to the toe. With increased void space, the wear rate of the heel is increased to balance the wear rate at the toe.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2000Date of Patent: April 30, 2002Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyInventor: Jean François Léon Fontaine
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Patent number: 5966034Abstract: In a pulse filtering device, the pulse signal is sampled to enable the counting of this signal by an asynchronous counter. A pulse of calibrated duration is generated when the counting reaches a predetermined number.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 1998Date of Patent: October 12, 1999Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.A.Inventor: Jean-Francois Leon
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Patent number: 5621255Abstract: A Marx generator, includes a number of capacitors (E) connected in series via spark gaps (E), between two output terminals and a power supply circuit that charges the capacitors in parallel. The capacitors are connected in series by a flat line formed of two metal strips running parallel and facing one another. These strips are connected together electrically at one end of the line and respectively to the output terminals at the other end and consist of one continuous strip and a second strip subdivided by transverse slots into successive plane sections interconnected in series alternately by a capacitor and a surface spark gap. A structure of this kind reduces the inductance of the generator and hence improves the rise time of the output pulses.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 1994Date of Patent: April 15, 1997Assignee: Etat Francais represente par le Delegue General pour l'ArmementInventors: Jean-Francois Leon, Bernard Etlicher, Philippe Auvray, Henri Lamain