Patents by Inventor Mark A. Roberts

Mark A. Roberts 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: 11904283
    Abstract: A volatiles consuming eductor system for coated scrap metal furnaces with separate delacquering and melt chambers. Motive gas is forced through an inlet into a mixing chamber in a direction opposite a suction port, creating a Venturi that draws gases from the delaquering chamber through the mixing chamber. The motive gas and the drawn gases mix and are forced through a discharge port, ignited, and injected into the melt chamber to help heat the melt chamber. A computer monitors process conditions and controls a regulator that adjusts the motive gas flow in response to those conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: GPRE IP LLC
    Inventors: John M. Peterman, Mark A. Roberts, Mark J. Burke
  • Publication number: 20240011710
    Abstract: A vortex metal insertion system for a metal recycling furnace, the system having a molten metal flow cycling through the furnace and through a vortex bowl in the system. The system includes one or more process sensors in the furnace, an automated molten metal flow adjustment device, and a computer controller. The computer controller reads the sensor(s) and adjusts the adjustment device to control the flow of molten metal through the vortex bowl based on the reading(s). The system has an insertion port through which scrap metal and other materials may be controllably inserted into the molten metal flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Applicant: GPRE IP, LLC
    Inventors: John M. Peterman, Mark A. Roberts
  • Patent number: 11835295
    Abstract: A metal furnace header gate system haying a recirculation port in the furnace, a hot gas generator, a gas blower, and a furnace door. The door has an embedded gas manifold and outlet ports that each connect the manifold to a directional nozzle. The blower draws exhaust from the recirculation port into the hot gas generator, which generates additional exhaust and mixes the exhaust gases together. The blower forces this exhaust mixture into the manifold, through the nozzles, and into the furnace. A computer controls the blower and the hot gas generator to regulate the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: GPRE IP, LLC
    Inventors: John M. Peterman, Mark A. Roberts
  • Patent number: 11767575
    Abstract: A vortex injection system for a metal recycling furnace a delacquering chamber and a melt chamber, and a molten metal flow channel running through each chamber. The system diverts a portion of the molten metal flow through a vortex bowl, after which that portion of the molten metal flow is then returned to the main molten metal flow. The vortex bowl has an insertion port through which scrap metal and other materials may be controllably injected into the molten metal flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: GPRE IP, LLC
    Inventors: John M. Peterman, Mark A. Roberts
  • Patent number: 11635258
    Abstract: An overflow system for a doorway exhaust hood on a metal melt furnace having an eductor gas circulator. The system includes a manifold with an inlet near the hood's lower lip, and a conduit between the manifold and eductor. A blower draws gas into the manifold and urges that gas through the conduit, into the eductor, and into the furnace. Sensors detect when the door is open and the volatiles level under the hood. An electronic controller instructs the blower to draw exhaust gases through the manifold when the door is open and the volatiles level exceeds a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: GPRE IP, LLC
    Inventors: John M. Peterman, Mark A. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20220370968
    Abstract: A volatiles consuming eductor system for coated scrap metal furnaces with separate delacquering and melt chambers. Motive gas is forced through an inlet into a mixing chamber in a direction opposite a suction port, creating a Venturi that draws gases from the delaquering chamber through the mixing chamber. The motive gas and the drawn gases mix and are forced through a discharge port, ignited, and injected into the melt chamber to help heat the melt chamber. A computer monitors process conditions and controls a regulator that adjusts the motive gas flow in response to those conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Applicant: GPRE IP, LLC
    Inventors: John M. Peterman, Mark A. Roberts, Mark J. Burke
  • Publication number: 20220040649
    Abstract: A volatiles consuming eductor system for coated scrap metal furnaces with separate delacquering and melt chambers. Motive gas is forced through an inlet into a mixing chamber in a direction opposite a suction port, creating a Venturi that draws gases from the delaquering chamber through the mixing chamber. The motive gas and the drawn gases mix and are forced through a discharge port, ignited, and injected into the melt chamber to help heat the melt chamber. A computer monitors process conditions and controls a regulator that adjusts the motive gas flow in response to those conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Applicant: GPRE IP, LLC
    Inventors: John M. Peterman, Mark A. Roberts, Mark J. Burke
  • Publication number: 20220034588
    Abstract: A metal furnace header gate system haying a recirculation port in the furnace, a hot gas generator, a gas blower, and a furnace door. The door has an embedded gas manifold and outlet ports that each connect the manifold to a directional nozzle. The blower draws exhaust from the recirculation port into the hot gas generator, which generates additional exhaust and mixes the exhaust gases together. The blower forces this exhaust mixture into the manifold, through the nozzles, and into the furnace. A computer controls the blower and the hot gas generator to regulate the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Applicant: GPRE IP, LLC
    Inventors: John M. Peterman, Mark A. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20220026150
    Abstract: An overflow system for a doorway exhaust hood on a metal melt furnace having an eductor gas circulator. The system includes a manifold with an inlet near the hood's lower lip, and a conduit between the manifold and eductor. A blower draws gas into the manifold and urges that gas through the conduit, into the eductor, and into the furnace. Sensors detect when the door is open and the volatiles level under the hood. An electronic controller instructs the blower to draw exhaust gases through the manifold when the door is open and the volatiles level exceeds a predetermined level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Applicant: GPRE IP, LLC
    Inventors: John M. Peterman, Mark A. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20220010406
    Abstract: A vortex injection system for a metal recycling furnace a delacquering chamber and a melt chamber, and a molten metal flow channel running through each chamber. The system diverts a portion of the molten metal flow through a vortex bowl, after which that portion of the molten metal flow is then returned to the main molten metal flow. The vortex bowl has an insertion port through which scrap metal and other materials may be controllably injected into the molten metal flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Applicant: GPRE IP, LLC
    Inventors: John M. Peterman, Mark A. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20220001340
    Abstract: An automatic variable speed eductor recirculation system for metal recycling furnaces having a delacquering chamber and a separate heating chamber. The system includes a recirculation duct between the two chambers, an eductor in the duct, a variable speed blower forcing motive gases into the eductor creating a Venturi that draws VOC's from the delaquering chamber through the eductor, and an infrared opacity sensor proximate the eductor that measures the transparency level of the gases in the eductor. An electronic controller automatically adjusts the blower speed to control the eductor Venturi based upon the transparency level measurements of the opacity sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Applicant: GPRE IP, LLC
    Inventors: John M. Peterman, Mark A. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20200221703
    Abstract: Compositions and methods for treating or preventing plant disease are provided. Such compositions and methods comprise a bacterial strain that control one or more pathogens that cause plant disease or improve at least one agronomic trait of interest in a plant. The bacterial strain can be used as an inoculant for plants. Therefore, methods for growing a plant susceptible to a plant disease and methods for controlling plant disease on a plant susceptible to the plant disease are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Applicant: AgBiome, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip E. Hammer, Mark A. Roberts, Mathias Twizeyimana, Steve Ronyak
  • Patent number: 9360253
    Abstract: A rotary aluminum kiln temperature regulation system comprising a temperature sensing device in the kiln that is configured to take temperature readings in an area of the kiln in proximity to the temperature sensing device. The system including a wireless transmitter operatively associated with the temperature sensing device and a receiver wirelessly associated with the transmitter, such that the transmitter and receiver wirelessly transmit the temperature readings taken by the temperature sensing device from the transmitter to the receiver. The system also including a control unit operatively connected to the receiver that is configured to receive the transmitted temperature readings and determine when the transmitted temperature readings exceed a predefined temperature set point. The control unit operatives one or more forward feed control loop subsystems that assist in safely operating the kiln in accord with a predetermined temperature profile programmed into the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: GILLESPIE + POWERS, INC
    Inventors: John M. Peterman, Mark A. Roberts
  • Patent number: 8985472
    Abstract: A rotary aluminum kiln temperature regulation system comprising a temperature sensing device in the kiln that is configured to take temperature readings in an area of the kiln in proximity to the temperature sensing device. The system including a wireless transmitter operatively associated with the temperature sensing device and a receiver wirelessly associated with the transmitter, such that the transmitter and receiver wirelessly transmit the temperature readings taken by the temperature sensing device from the transmitter to the receiver. The system also including a control unit operatively connected to the receiver that is configured to receive the transmitted temperature readings and determine when the transmitted temperature readings exceed a predefined temperature setpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Gillespie + Powers, Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Peterman, Mark A. Roberts
  • Patent number: 8659974
    Abstract: According to a preferred aspect of the instant invention, there is provided herein a system and method for imaging complex subsurface geologic structures such as salt dome flanks using VSP data. In the preferred arrangement, a receiver wave field will be downward continued through a salt flood model and a source wave field will be upward continued through a sediment flood model until they “meet” at the subsurface locations of the VSP receivers. The source and receiver wave fields will be cross correlated as an imaging condition at each depth interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: BP Corporation North America Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Roberts, Brian E. Hornby
  • Patent number: 8652398
    Abstract: A burner assembly comprising a burner with a body and a burner throat extending downwardly from the burner body, a carriage located below the burner and provided with a cradle, a media box configured to pivotally mate with the cradle along a horizontal axis of the media box such that the media box is supported on the carriage at the axis and can rotate on the carriage about the axis, the media box having a port that connects with the burner throat but that separates from the burner throat when the media box is tilted about its axis, and media in the media box to serve as a heat sink, where the axis is horizontally offset from the media box's center of gravity, and the media box may be rotated about the horizontal axis to allow for ready engagement and disengagement between the media box and the burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Gillespie + Powers, Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Peterman, Mark A. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20120024205
    Abstract: A burner assembly comprising a burner with a body and a burner throat extending downwardly from the burner body, a carriage located below the burner and provided with a cradle, a media box configured to pivotally mate with the cradle along a horizontal axis of the media box such that the media box is supported on the carriage at the axis and can rotate on the carriage about the axis, the media box having a port that connects with the burner throat but that separates from the burner throat when the media box is tilted about its axis, and media in the media box to serve as a heat sink, where the axis is horizontally offset from the media box's center of gravity, and the media box may be rotated about the horizontal axis to allow for ready engagement and disengagement between the media box and the burner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: GILLESPIE + POWERS, INC.
    Inventors: John M. Peterman, Mark A. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20110287375
    Abstract: A rotary aluminum kiln temperature regulation system comprising a temperature sensing device in the kiln that is configured to take temperature readings in an area of the kiln in proximity to the temperature sensing device. The system including a wireless transmitter operatively associated with the temperature sensing device and a receiver wirelessly associated with the transmitter, such that the transmitter and receiver wirelessly transmit the temperature readings taken by the temperature sensing device from the transmitter to the receiver. The system also including a control unit operatively connected to the receiver that is configured to receive the transmitted temperature readings and determine when the transmitted temperature readings exceed a predefined temperature setpoint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: GILLESPIE + POWERS, INC.
    Inventors: John M. Peterman, Mark A. Roberts
  • Publication number: 20110228638
    Abstract: According to a preferred aspect of the instant invention, there is provided herein a system and method for imaging complex subsurface geologic structures such as salt dome flanks using VSP data. In the preferred arrangement, a receiver wave field will be downward continued through a salt flood model and a source wave field will be upward continued through a sediment flood model until they “meet” at the subsurface locations of the VSP receivers. The source and receiver wave fields will be cross correlated as an imaging condition at each depth interval.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: BP CORPORATION NORTH AMERICA INC.
    Inventors: Mark A. Roberts, Brian E. Hornby
  • Patent number: 7470125
    Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-split screen image with audio feed to document the training engagement. The multi video image combines an over-watch thermal image, the Loader's actions, the Gunner's actions, and the imagery from the vehicle's thermal imaging system. The audio track documents the communication within the vehicle and between the vehicle and the control tower. Further, the present invention provides a tower control module that also provides surveillance video over the firing range. Until the present invention no other gunnery-training device transmitted and displayed its imagery and audio in this manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Lenard V. Ramboyong, Philip S. Zinser, Paul W. Bachelder, Charles S. Thomas, Mark A. Roberts, Edwin L. Duncan, Lawrence D. Clark