Patents by Inventor Joseph H. MacNeil

Joseph H. MacNeil 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).

  • Method and apparatus for separating a protein membrane and shell material in waste egg shells
    Patent number: 7007806
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for abrading the membrane portion of waste egg shells from the hard mineral portion thereof, is provided. The linking structure between the membrane and shell is initially abraded such that the membrane particles and shell particles can be passively dissociated thereafter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventor: Joseph H. MacNeil
  • Method and apparatus for separating a protein membrane and shell material in waste egg shells
    Publication number: 20030136711
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for abrading the membrane portion of waste egg shells from the hard mineral portion thereof, is provided. The linking structure between the membrane and shell is initially abraded such that the membrane particles and shell particles can be passively dissociated thereafter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventor: Joseph H. MacNeil
  • Method and apparatus for separating a protein membrane and shell material in waste egg shells
    Publication number: 20010037959
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating the membrane portion of waste egg shells from the hard mineral portion thereof, so that each can be used or further processed as desired, thereby addressing the environmental and economic issues associated with disposing of waste egg shells. The membrane and shell are separated by first processing waste egg shells so as to yield small waste egg shell particles. During this processing, the waste egg shell particles are at least slightly abraded, whereby the linking structure between the membrane and shell is at least partially disrupted. Thereafter, the waste egg shell particles are conveyed to a tank containing, preferably, water, and allowed to settle therethrough. As the waste egg shell particles settle, the particles experience turbulent forces in the liquid which cause the membrane and shell portions to fully separate. Since the membrane particles are very light, they tend to remain entrained in the liquid, where they are, for example, siphoned off and dewatered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventor: Joseph H. MacNeil
  • Method and apparatus for separating a protein membrane and shell material in waste egg shells
    Patent number: 6176376
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating the membrane portion of waste egg shells from the hard mineral portion thereof, so that each can be used or further processed as desired, thereby addressing the environmental and economic issues associated with disposing of waste egg shells. The membrane and shell are separated by first processing waste egg shells so as to yield small waste egg shell particles. During this processing, the waste egg shell particles are at least slightly abraded, whereby the linking structure between the membrane and shell is at least partially disrupted. Thereafter, the waste egg shell particles are conveyed to a tank containing, preferably, water, and allowed to settle therethrough. As the waste egg shell particles settle, the particles experience turbulent forces in the liquid which cause the membrane and shell portions to fully separate. Since the membrane particles are very light, they tend to remain entrained in the liquid, where they are, for example, siphoned off and dewatered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventor: Joseph H. MacNeil