Patents by Inventor Michael C. Martin

Michael C. Martin 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: 4948387
    Abstract: This invention relates to a combination comprising two vertical cylindrical shaped high temperature pressure vessels coaxially connected. The upper vessel is a refractory lined free-flow partial oxidation gas generator for the production of gaseous mixtures comprising H.sub.2 +CO from liquid hydrocarbonaceous and solid carbonaceous fuels. The lower vessel houses a radiation gas cooler for cooling the raw gas stream which is produced in the upper vessel and which passes down through a coaxial vertical cylindrical annular shaped refractory throat located between said upper and lower vessels. A vertical steel cylindrical gas barrier provided with a flanged bottom surrounds the refractory throat passage so that substantially no gas escapes into a stagnant annular zone outside of said gas barrier. Further the refractory throat is vertically supported by said flanged gas barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1990
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Martin, Erwin A. Reich
  • Patent number: 4936376
    Abstract: In a heat exchange vessel which conducts a hot, pressurized synthetic gaseous stream carrying particulate matter through a central heat exchange chamber, a safety system for monitoring pressures within the vessel. Said heat exchange vessel includes a shell surrounding a water wall, defining an annulus therebetween. Pressure sensing means communicated with the respective heat exchange chamber and said annulus, connects to means for determining the pressure differential between said points. A purge gas source communicated with the monitor system maintains the latter free of internal passage blockage caused by accumulations of particulate matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 26, 1990
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Martin, Beth E. McCracken, George M. Gulko
  • Patent number: 4876987
    Abstract: In a heat exchange vessel which conducts a hot, pressurized synthetic gaseous stream carrying particulate matter through a central heat exchange chamber, a safety system for monitoring pressures within the vessel. Said heat exchange vessel includes a shell surrounding a water wall, defining an annulus therebetween. Pressure sensing means communicated with the respective heat exchange chamber and said annulus connects to means for determining the pressure differential between said points. A purge gas source communicated with the monitor system maintains the latter free of internal passage blockage caused by accumulations of particulate matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1989
    Assignee: Texaco, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Martin, Beth E. McCracken, George M. Gulko
  • Patent number: 4778483
    Abstract: A gasifier having a combustion chamber in which a hydrocarbonaceous fuel is burned to produce a usable gas. A quench chamber is positioned to receive said gas and other byproducts as an effluent stream, in a coolant liquid quench bath. A dip tube and draft tube define a tortuous passage within a quench chamber for directing the gaseous segment to a discharge port by way of said quench bath. A baffle positioned in the path of the gas includes a manifold at the baffle lower end to receive condensate which flows from said baffle face and returns water to the quench bath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1988
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Michael C. Martin, George M. Gulko
  • Patent number: 4666462
    Abstract: Control process for producing an aqueous slurry of solid carbonaceous fuel having a desired solids concentration for feed to a partial oxidation gas generator by grinding together in a size reduction zone a recycle aqueous slurry stream comprising carbon-containing particulate solids, a stream of solid carbonaceous fuel, and a specific amount of make-up water. No valves are in the line or path between the size reduction zone and the feed tanks for the solid carbonaceous fuel and recycle aqueous slurry. A system control unit automatically calculates the amount of make-up water and provides a corresponding signal to control the flow rate. Input signals that are provided to the system control unit include those corresponding to the weigh belt feeder speed and moisture content for the solid carbonaceous fuel; and pump speed, weight fraction, temperature, and density of the solids for the slurry of recycle particulate solids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1987
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventor: Michael C. Martin
  • Patent number: 4319081
    Abstract: Sound level monitoring apparatus for a deaf person comprises a microphone, a discriminator connected to the microphone to provide an output signal in response to the attainment of a predetermined sound level threshold in the ambient sound detected by the microphone, and a sensory transducer responsive to the discriminator to provide a representation of the output signal. In use the threshold suitably represents the normal speech level of the user, and may be adjustable, and the transducer accordingly indicates whether the user should raise or lower his speech level in a given environment. The apparatus can operate in association with several thresholds with the lowest denoting normal speech and with one or more transducers providing respectively, mutually distinctive representations. The transducer or transducers can be of visual form, with use of differently colored light outputs or of vibratory tactile form, with different operating frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1982
    Assignee: National Research Development Corporation
    Inventors: Michael C. Martin, Ian R. Summers