Patents by Inventor Joseph W. Whittenberger
Joseph W. Whittenberger 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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Patent number: 10821415Abstract: An installation tool for installing reactor components into a reactor is disclosed. The tool comprises a housing having a first end and a second end opposite the first end; a releasable attachment assembly for securing a reactor component support to the tool, the attachment assembly being pivotably inside the housing; a gas supply hose connected to the first end of the housing; and a gas outlet at the second end of the housing in fluid communication with the gas supply hose. The gas outlet is configured to provide gas to expand a reactor component secured by the releasable attachment assembly. A control line for the releasable attachment assembly runs inside the gas supply hose.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2017Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: Johnson Matthey Public Limited CompanyInventors: William Alan Whittenberger, Joseph W. Whittenberger, Frank James Podojil, III
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Patent number: 10099198Abstract: An expandable center arrangement for a reactor is disclosed. The arrangement comprises an expansion tube; a center support inside the expansion tube and three or more spring elements. The spring elements are fastened to the center support and arc out to the expansion tube. A reactor is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2017Date of Patent: October 16, 2018Assignee: Johnson Matthey Public Limited CompanyInventors: William Alan Whittenberger, Joseph W. Whittenberger, Frank James Podojil, III
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Patent number: 9901898Abstract: Described herein are expandable center arrangements for use in a tubular reactor, such as a reformer, for enhancing heat transfer and reactor efficiency. The expandable center arrangement can include a cone being expandable in the radial direction and an expansion weight for promoting expansion of the cone. The cone and expansion weight can be slidably arranged on a center support. Expansion of the cones in the radial direction forces reactor components radially outward to an outer tube that houses the reactor components and expandable center arrangement. Expansion of reactor components towards the outer tube promotes heat for carrying out catalytic reactions.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2013Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignee: Johnson Matthey Public Limited CompanyInventors: William A. Whittenberger, Joseph W. Whittenberger, Brian L. Davis, James A. Rundo
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Publication number: 20170333866Abstract: An expandable center arrangement for a reactor is disclosed. The arrangement comprises an expansion tube; a center support inside the expansion tube and three or more spring elements. The spring elements are fastened to the center support and arc out to the expansion tube. A reactor is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2017Publication date: November 23, 2017Applicant: Johnson Matthey Public Limited CompanyInventors: William Alan WHITTENBERGER, Joseph W. WHITTENBERGER, Frank James PODOJIL, III
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Publication number: 20170333865Abstract: An installation tool for installing reactor components into a reactor is disclosed. The tool comprises a housing having a first end and a second end opposite the first end; a releasable attachment assembly for securing a reactor component support to the tool, the attachment assembly being pivotably inside the housing; a gas supply hose connected to the first end of the housing; and a gas outlet at the second end of the housing in fluid communication with the gas supply hose. The gas outlet is configured to provide gas to expand a reactor component secured by the releasable attachment assembly. A control line for the releasable attachment assembly runs inside the gas supply hose.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 23, 2017Publication date: November 23, 2017Applicant: Johnson Matthey Public Limited CompanyInventors: William Alan WHITTENBERGER, Joseph W. WHITTENBERGER, Frank James PODOJIL, III
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Patent number: 9751073Abstract: A reactor for carrying out catalytic reactions. The reactor includes a reactor component optionally arranged on a central rod in a reactor tube. The reactor component can have fluid ducts for directing fluid flow through the reactor. The fluid ducts are effective for increasing heat transfer in the reactor. The reactor component can further have a washer attached to a top or bottom surface for directing fluid flow.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2015Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: Johnson Matthey Public Limited CompanyInventors: William A. Whittenberger, Gordon W. Brunson, Brian L. Davis, Todd A. Romesberg, Randall J. Bartos, Joseph W. Whittenberger
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Patent number: 9643150Abstract: Reactor installation tools and methods for installing reactor components in a reactor tube are described herein. A reactor installation tool can include a releasable attachment assembly for securing the tool to a reactor or support for holding reactor components. The tool can include a movable cylinder that can be actuated to engage and push on a reactor component in an interior region of the reactor for positioning the contents of the reactor in a desired location. The tool can further include means for supply blasts of compressed gas to an interior region of the reactor to aid in the expansion and positioning of the reactor contents. A skirt seal can be used to ensure that the blasts of compressed gas are contained in the interior region of the reactor.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 2013Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: Johnson Matthey Public Limited CompanyInventors: William A. Whittenberger, Joseph W. Whittenberger, Randall J. Bartos
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Patent number: 9573106Abstract: A reactor installation tool and method for installing reactor components in a reactor housing. A reactor installation tool can include a push unit having a central aperture traversing its entire length and a push rod, a housing gripper having a center open section traversing its entire length and an expandable bladder positioned adjacent the center open section for securing the housing gripper inside a reactor housing. Reactor components can be installed by first lowering reactor components into a reactor housing, then lowering the reactor installation tool into the reactor housing above the reactor components, and then inflating the expandable bladder such that the expandable bladder contacts an inside surface of the reactor housing to secure the housing gripper inside the reactor housing.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2014Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: Johnson Matthey Public Limited CompanyInventors: William A. Whittenberger, Joseph W. Whittenberger
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Patent number: 9403138Abstract: A wire standoff suitable for use in a tubular reactor, such as a reformer, is described. The wire standoff includes a portion or segment positioned between an outer reactor tube and one or more reactor components located within the tube. The reactor components and the outer tube are prevented from coming into directed contact with one another by the positioning of the wire standoff. The wire standoff can be secured to a reactor component at one of its ends or to a washer located between stacked reactor components. Prevention of the reactor components from contact with the outer tube promotes fluid flow through the reactor and can enhance heat transfer and reactor efficiency for carrying out catalytic reactions.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2013Date of Patent: August 2, 2016Assignee: JOHNSON MATTHEY PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANYInventors: William A. Whittenberger, Joseph W. Whittenberger, Brian L. Davis
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Publication number: 20160038911Abstract: A reactor for carrying out catalytic reactions. The reactor includes a reactor component optionally arranged on a central rod in a reactor tube. The reactor component can have fluid ducts for directing fluid flow through the reactor. The fluid ducts are effective for increasing heat transfer in the reactor. The reactor component can further have a washer attached to a top or bottom surface for directing fluid flow.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2015Publication date: February 11, 2016Inventors: William A. Whittenberger, Gordon W. Brunson, Brian L. Davis, Todd A. Romesberg, Randall J. Bartos, Joseph W. Whittenberger
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Patent number: 9216394Abstract: A reactor for carrying out catalytic reactions. The reactor includes a reactor component optionally arranged on a central rod in a reactor tube. The reactor component can have fluid ducts for directing fluid flow through the reactor. The fluid ducts are effective for increasing heat transfer in the reactor. The reactor component can further have a washer attached to a top or bottom surface for directing fluid flow.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2014Date of Patent: December 22, 2015Assignee: JOHNSON MATTHEY PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANYInventors: William A. Whittenberger, Gordon W. Brunson, Brian L. Davis, Todd A. Romesberg, Randall J. Bartos, Joseph W. Whittenberger
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Publication number: 20150314257Abstract: A wire standoff suitable for use in a tubular reactor, such as a reformer, is described. The wire standoff includes a portion or segment positioned between an outer reactor tube and one or more reactor components located within the tube. The reactor components and the outer tube are prevented from coming into directed contact with one another by the positioning of the wire standoff. The wire standoff can be secured to a reactor component at one of its ends or to a washer located between stacked reactor components. Prevention of the reactor components from contact with the outer tube promotes fluid flow through the reactor and can enhance heat transfer and reactor efficiency for carrying out catalytic reactions.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2013Publication date: November 5, 2015Applicant: Catacel Corp.Inventors: William A. Whittenberger, Joseph W. Whittenberger, Brian L. Davis
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Publication number: 20140356109Abstract: A reactor installation tool and method for installing reactor components in a reactor housing. A reactor installation tool can include a push unit having a central aperture traversing its entire length and a push rod, a housing gripper having a center open section traversing its entire length and an expandable bladder positioned adjacent the center open section for securing the housing gripper inside a reactor housing. Reactor components can be installed by first lowering reactor components into a reactor housing, then lowering the reactor installation tool into the reactor housing above the reactor components, and then inflating the expandable bladder such that the expandable bladder contacts an inside surface of the reactor housing to secure the housing gripper inside the reactor housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2014Publication date: December 4, 2014Applicant: Catacel Corp.Inventors: William A. Whittenberger, Joseph W. Whittenberger
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Publication number: 20140325843Abstract: Reactor installation tools and methods for installing reactor components in a reactor tube are described herein. A reactor installation tool can include a releasable attachment assembly for securing the tool to a reactor or support for holding reactor components. The tool can include a movable cylinder that can be actuated to engage and push on a reactor component in an interior region of the reactor for positioning the contents of the reactor in a desired location. The tool can further include means for supply blasts of compressed gas to an interior region of the reactor to aid in the expansion and positioning of the reactor contents. A skirt seal can be used to ensure that the blasts of compressed gas are contained in the interior region of the reactor.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2013Publication date: November 6, 2014Inventors: William A. Whittenberger, Joseph W. Whittenberger, Randall J. Bartos
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Publication number: 20140205506Abstract: A reactor for carrying out catalytic reactions. The reactor includes a reactor component optionally arranged on a central rod in a reactor tube. The reactor component can have fluid ducts for directing fluid flow through the reactor. The fluid ducts are effective for increasing heat transfer in the reactor. The reactor component can further have a washer attached to a top or bottom surface for directing fluid flow.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 24, 2014Publication date: July 24, 2014Applicant: Catacel Corp.Inventors: William A. Whittenberger, Gordon W. Brunson, Brian L. Davis, Todd A. Romesberg, Randall J. Bartos, Joseph W. Whittenberger
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Patent number: 8721973Abstract: A reactor for carrying out catalytic reactions. The reactor includes a reactor component optionally arranged on a central rod in a reactor tube. The reactor component can have fluid ducts for directing fluid flow through the reactor. The fluid ducts are effective for increasing heat transfer in the reactor. The reactor component can further have a washer attached to a top or bottom surface for directing fluid flow.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2012Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: Catacel Corp.Inventors: William A. Whittenberger, Gordon W. Brunson, Brian L. Davis, Todd A. Romesberg, Randall J. Bartos, Joseph W. Whittenberger
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Publication number: 20130259757Abstract: Described herein are expandable center arrangements for use in a tubular reactor, such as a reformer, for enhancing heat transfer and reactor efficiency. The expandable center arrangement can include a cone being expandable in the radial direction and an expansion weight for promoting expansion of the cone. The cone and expansion weight can be slidably arranged on a center support. Expansion of the cones in the radial direction forces reactor components radially outward to an outer tube that houses the reactor components and expandable center arrangement. Expansion of reactor components towards the outer tube promotes heat for carrying out catalytic reactions.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2013Publication date: October 3, 2013Applicant: Catacel Corp.Inventors: William A. Whittenberger, Joseph W. Whittenberger, Brian L. Davis, James A. Rundo
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Publication number: 20130259767Abstract: A wire standoff suitable for use in a tubular reactor, such as a reformer, is described. The wire standoff includes a portion or segment positioned between an outer reactor tube and one or more reactor components located within the tube. The reactor components and the outer tube are prevented from coming into directed contact with one another by the positioning of the wire standoff. The wire standoff can be secured to a reactor component at one of its ends or to a washer located between stacked reactor components. Prevention of the reactor components from contact with the outer tube promotes fluid flow through the reactor and can enhance heat transfer and reactor efficiency for carrying out catalytic reactions.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2013Publication date: October 3, 2013Applicant: Catacel Corp.Inventors: William A. Whittenberger, Joseph W. Whittenberger, Brian L. Davis
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Publication number: 20120195801Abstract: A reactor for carrying out catalytic reactions. The reactor includes a reactor component optionally arranged on a central rod in a reactor tube. The reactor component can have fluid ducts for directing fluid flow through the reactor. The fluid ducts are effective for increasing heat transfer in the reactor. The reactor component can further have a washer attached to a top or bottom surface for directing fluid flow.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2012Publication date: August 2, 2012Applicant: CATACEL CORPORATIONInventors: William A. Whittenberger, Gordon W. Brunson, Brian L. Davis, Todd A. Romesberg, Randall J. Bartos, Joseph W. Whittenberger