Patents by Inventor Lai Chi

Lai Chi 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).

  • Publication number: 20210387306
    Abstract: A slurry blending tool may include a blending tank to receive and blend one or more materials into a slurry, and at least one inlet pipe connected to the blending tank and to provide the one or more materials to the blending tank. The at least one inlet pipe may vertically enter the blending tank and may not contact the blending tank. The slurry blending tool may include a blending pump partially provided within the blending tank and to blend the one or more materials into the slurry. The slurry blending tool may include an outlet pipe connected to the blending pump and to remove the slurry from the blending tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2020
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Inventors: Chi-Wei CHIU, Yung-Long CHEN, Bo-Zhang CHEN, Chong-Cheng SU, Yu-Chun CHEN, Ching-Jung HSU, Lai-Chi TUNG
  • Patent number: 10174403
    Abstract: A method for recovering metal values from a molten slag composition includes atomizing the slag with an oxygen-containing gas in a gas atomization apparatus, to produce solid slag granules. Oxygen in the atomizing gas converts metals to magnetic metal compounds, thereby magnetizing the metal-containing slag granules. These metal-containing slag granules are then magnetically separated. Larger amounts of metals may be removed by passing the molten slag through a pre-settling pan with an adjustable base, and/or discontinuing atomization where the metal content of the slag exceeds a predetermined amount. Solid slag granules produced by atomization may be charged to a recovery unit for recovery of one or more metal by-products. An apparatus for recovering metal values from molten slag includes a gas atomization apparatus, a flow control device for controlling the flow of atomizing gas, a control system, and one or more sensors to detect metal values in the slag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Hatch, LTD
    Inventors: Sina Mostaghel, Matthew H. Cramer, Santiago Faucher, Lai Chi So, Johannes Nell
  • Patent number: 10167423
    Abstract: A process for preparing solid slag granules from a molten slag composition comprises: (a) providing the molten slag composition; (b) converting the molten slag composition into the solid slag granules in a dispersion apparatus; and (c) sorting the solid slag granules by shape in a separator to produce a plurality of fractions having different sphericities. Granular slag products comprise one or more fractions of solid slag granules produced by the process, and include proppants, roofing granules, catalyst supports, which may be porous or non-porous, and coated or uncoated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: HATCH LTD.
    Inventors: Lai Chi So, Santiago Faucher
  • Publication number: 20170362680
    Abstract: A method for recovering metal values from a molten slag composition includes atomizing the slag with an oxygen-containing gas in a gas atomization apparatus, to produce solid slag granules. Oxygen in the atomizing gas converts metals to magnetic metal compounds, thereby magnetizing the metal-containing slag granules. These metal-containing slag granules are then magnetically separated. Larger amounts of metals may be removed by passing the molten slag through a pre-settling pan with an adjustable base, and/or discontinuing atomization where the metal content of the slag exceeds a predetermined amount. Solid slag granules produced by atomization may be charged to a recovery unit for recovery of one or more metal by-products. An apparatus for recovering metal values from molten slag includes a gas atomization apparatus, a flow control device for controlling the flow of atomizing gas, a control system, and one or more sensors to detect metal values in the slag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Applicant: Hatch Ltd.
    Inventors: Sina MOSTAGHEL, Matthew H. CRAMER, Santiago FAUCHER, Lai Chi SO, Johannes NELL
  • Publication number: 20170297113
    Abstract: Metallurgical processes and systems for gas atomization of molten slag and/or molten metals from a metallurgical furnace are integrated with off-gas handling processes and equipment, such that the off-gases are fed to the gas atomization plant for atomizing the molten slag and/or molten metal. The use of by-product off-gases for atomizing molten slag and/or molten metals provides a number of benefits, including elimination of off-gas handling and treatment equipment, centralization and upgrading of heat via atomization to improve heat recovery, prevention of oxidation of granular products of atomization, and reduction of CO2 emissions. A process for preparing a granular product comprises: feeding a molten material and a by-product off-gas to a dispersion apparatus; and contacting the gas with the molten material in the dispersion apparatus, whereby the molten material is dispersed and solidified by contact with the gas to form the granular product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Santiago Faucher, Sina Mostaghel, Lai Chi So, Matthew Cramer
  • Publication number: 20170137912
    Abstract: A process for producing substantially dry slag granules comprises adding a controlled amount of water to a molten stream of slag, and granulating the slag to produce solidified slag comprising substantially dry slag granules and slag wool. An apparatus for producing substantially dry slag granules comprises: (a) an inclined surface having an upper and lower ends for receiving and discharging the stream of slag; (b) a dispersion device at the lower end of the inclined surface for dispersion of the molten slag; (c) one or more water addition devices for adding a controlled amount of water to the molten slag; and (d) a collection area adjacent to the dispersion device for deposition of solidified slag produced by the dispersion. The quantity of slag wool produced by the process and apparatus is less than that which would be produced without the addition of water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventors: Santiago Faucher, Sang-Yoon Oh, Sina Mostaghel, Lai Chi So, Victor Hernandez, Maurizio Darini, Darryl Robert Metcalfe, Tom Rafferty
  • Publication number: 20170121595
    Abstract: A process for preparing solid slag granules from a molten slag composition comprises: (a) providing the molten slag composition; (b) converting the molten slag composition into the solid slag granules in a dispersion apparatus; and (c) sorting the solid slag granules by shape in a separator to produce a plurality of fractions having different sphericities. Granular slag products comprise one or more fractions of solid slag granules produced by the process, and include proppants, roofing granules, catalyst supports, which may be porous or non-porous, and coated or uncoated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Inventors: Santiago Faucher, Lai Chi So
  • Patent number: 8685612
    Abstract: A continuous emulsion aggregation process for the production of particles is presented including a plurality of continuous stirred-tank reactors (CSTR). The plurality of continuous stirred-tank reactors includes a first reactor and a second reactor for facilitating an aggregation process; a third reactor for facilitating a shell addition process; a fourth reactor for facilitating a freeze process; a fifth reactor for facilitating a chelating process; a sixth reactor for facilitating a ramp-up process; and a seventh reactor for facilitating a coalescence process. The reactors are sequentially assembled in a series configuration, each of the reactors cooperating with an overhead stirrer. In other embodiments, a CSTR system of the present disclosure possesses five reactors sequentially assembled in a series configuration to form toner particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Santiago Faucher, Kimberly D. Nosella, Lai Chi So
  • Publication number: 20120183898
    Abstract: A continuous emulsion aggregation process for the production of particles is presented including a plurality of continuous stirred-tank reactors (CSTR). The plurality of continuous stirred-tank reactors includes a first reactor and a second reactor for facilitating an aggregation process; a third reactor for facilitating a shell addition process; a fourth reactor for facilitating a freeze process; a fifth reactor for facilitating a chelating process; a sixth reactor for facilitating a ramp-up process; and a seventh reactor for facilitating a coalescence process. The reactors are sequentially assembled in a series configuration, each of the reactors cooperating with an overhead stirrer. In other embodiments, a CSTR system of the present disclosure possesses five reactors sequentially assembled in a series configuration to form toner particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Santiago Faucher, Kimberly D. Nosella, Lai Chi So
  • Publication number: 20050040204
    Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting width of drive channel of nailer has a slot defined at a side surface of a track of the channel assembly, in the slot are defined a plurality of recesses and an adjustable push plate a plurality of blocks are defined on the push plate, the width of track can be increased when the blocks are inserted in the respective recesses, and alike, the width of track can be reduced when the blocks abut against the internal surface of the slot. By such a manner, the apparatus of the present invention is capable of providing suitable drive channel for different sized nails.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2003
    Publication date: February 24, 2005
    Inventor: Lai Chi