Patents by Inventor Lewis B. Decker, Jr.

Lewis B. Decker, Jr. 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: 5593654
    Abstract: A process for preparing stabilized alumina having increased surface area retention at high temperature in which a gel of a boehmite alumina which has been obtained by hydrothermally treating an aqueous mixture of a precursor boehmite alumina having a pH of from about 5 to about 9 for a period of time sufficient to convert the greater portion of the precursor boehmite alumina to a colloidal sol is subjected to working as, for example, by using a sufficient shearing force for a sufficient period of time to produce a worked boehmite alumina which has an increase in pore volume of at least about 30 percent and an increase of median pore radius of at least about 20 percent, a stabilizer being added to the boehmite alumina, the stabilizer being an oxide of a metal such as barium or a metal included in the lanthanide series of metals or a compound of such metals which converts to an oxide at elevated temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: CONDEA Vista Company
    Inventors: Lewis B. Decker, Jr., Kevin J. McLaughlin
  • Patent number: 5569325
    Abstract: A process for growing crystals at an enhanced rate comprising providing a dispersion of a fluid medium and seed crystals of a metal oxide, introducing feed material comprising a metal oxide into the dispersion and maintaining a uniform mixture of the seed crystals, the feed material and the fluid medium, the feed material having an average crystal size less than the average crystal size of the seed crystals, the feed material being added in an amount and at a rate whereby the seed crystals grow, the feed material providing a soluble nutrient species for deposition of the said crystal to effect crystal growth, the mixture of seed crystals and feed material being treated under conditions which stimulate crystal growth for a period of time sufficient to obtain a desired quantity of a product comprising at least one grown crystal having an average crystal size greater than the average crystal size of the seed crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Assignee: Condea Vista Company
    Inventors: David A. Barclay, Duane J. Lewis, Lewis B. Decker, Jr., William R. Carradine
  • Patent number: 5531976
    Abstract: A process for making high porosity boehmite alumina comprising forming an aqueous dispersion of a boehmite alumina which has been obtained by hydrothermally treating an aqueous mixture of a precursor boehmite alumina at a pH of from about 5 to about 9 for a period of time sufficient to convert the greater portion of the precursor boehmite alumina to a colloidal sol, treating the dispersion of the hydrothermally treated alumina to form a viscous gel and subjecting the gel to sufficient shearing force for a sufficient period of time to increase the pore volume by at least 30% and the median pore radius by at least 20%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: Condea Vista Company
    Inventors: Lewis B. Decker, Jr., Dwight D. Erickson, David A. Barclay
  • Patent number: 4676928
    Abstract: A process of producing a water dispersible alumina comprising forming an aqueous alumina slurry, acidifying the slurry to a pH range of from about 5 to about 8, aging the acidified slurry at elevated temperatures and for a sufficient amount of time to convert the greater portion of the alumina to a colloidal sol, recovering the sol and drying the sol to produce a highly water dispersible alumina.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1987
    Assignee: Vista Chemical Company
    Inventors: Bruce E. Leach, Lewis B. Decker, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4360449
    Abstract: A method is provided for forming stable dispersions of boehmite alumina in water containing a peptizing acid by mixing said alumina with dilute aqueous acid solutions and treating the alumina prior to dispersion by heating at temperatures of from about 250.degree. F. to 700.degree. F. and pressures of from about 10 psig to about 2000 psig in the presence of up to 80 weight percent of water based upon the total alumina for a period of time sufficient to stabilize the alumina to the extent necessary. Dispersions can be prepared which will remain fluid up to days longer than will those prepared from the untreated alumina.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1982
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventors: Richard K. Oberlander, Lewis B. Decker, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4358572
    Abstract: A process for the preparation of a drag reducing substance which comprises:(a) a transition metal catalyst slurry containing:1. crystalline titanium halide having the general formula TiXn where n=2.5 to 3.0 and X is halogen,2. a hydrocarbon diluent, and3. an ether;(b) a co-catalyst;(c) alpha-monoolefinic hydrocarbons containing from 2 to 30 carbon atoms under suitable polymerization conditions providing for an ultrahigh molecular weight polymer that is soluble in hydrocarbons; and(d) ceasing the polymerization at a polymer content of 20 percent by weight or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1982
    Assignee: Conoco Inc.
    Inventors: Mark P. Mack, Lewis B. Decker, Jr., Adrian L. Wallace