Patents by Inventor Michael D. Lucas

Michael D. Lucas 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: 20240043581
    Abstract: A process for producing an olefin polymer employs a gas phase polymerization reactor in fluid communication with a vent column and a product discharge system. The discharge system can include first and second pairs of lock hoppers, where each pair includes an upstream lock hopper connected by a valve to the reactor and a downstream lock hopper connected by a valve to the upstream lock hopper and by a further valve to a product recovery system, and where a first cross-tie can be provided between the upstream lock hoppers of the first and second pairs of lock hoppers and a second cross-tie can be provided between the downstream lock hoppers of the first and second pairs of lock hoppers. Upon reaching the vent column's maximum removal capacity, additional gas can be removed from the reactor by reducing the frequency of opening the second cross-tie between the downstream lock hoppers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Inventors: Nathaniel B. GUY, Stacy N. OLALEYE, Michael D. LUCAS, Handel D. BENNETT, David T. LAKIN, Benjamin J. OHRAN, Aaron C. MCGINNIS
  • Patent number: 11618793
    Abstract: Gas phase polymerization processes include contacting an input stream comprising a monomer and an induced condensing agent in the presence of an inert gas with a catalyst in a fluidized bed reactor to produce a polymer, unreacted monomer, and an output gas; recycling a recycle stream of the unreacted monomer from the reactor to the input stream; venting at least a portion of the output gas from the reactor; and maintaining a partial pressure of the inert gas in the reactor above a reference inert gas pressure to decrease losses of the recycle stream with the vented output gas. The processes may include controlling the inert gas partial pressure to vary the total reactor pressure up to the maximum safe pressure, without causing carry-over of product polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Lucas, Anne Bernard-Brunel, Ryan W. Impelman, Keng-Hua Beh, Diwaker Singh, Sr., Rui Hoong Chong, Corrine L. Brandl, Luis A. Sotomayor
  • Patent number: 11578147
    Abstract: In a process for producing an olefin polymer, at least one olefin monomer is polymerized in a polymerization reactor to produce a particulate polymer product containing hydrocarbon impurities including unreacted monomer and other C1 to C8 hydrocarbons. The polymer product is contacted with a gas-containing stream in a stripping vessel under conditions effective to strip hydrocarbon impurities from the polymer product and produce a stripped particulate polymer product and a gaseous first effluent stream containing inert gas and hydrocarbon impurities. The stripped particulate polymer product is recovered and the atmosphere adjacent the stripped particulate polymer product is sensed with a photoionization detector configured to ionize C4 to C8 hydrocarbons. The amount of the gas-containing stream supplied to the stripping vessel is then adjusted based upon such sensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Lucas, Philip W. Livanec, Christian T. Lund
  • Patent number: 11492422
    Abstract: A process for producing an olefin polymer employs a gas phase polymerization reactor having a product discharge system comprising first and second pairs of lock hoppers, wherein each pair comprises an upstream lock hopper connected by valve means to the reactor and a downstream lock hopper connected by valve means to the upstream lock hopper and by further valve means to a product recovery system, and wherein a first cross-tie is provided between the upstream lock hoppers of the first and second pairs of lock hoppers and a second cross-tie is provided between the downstream lock hoppers of the first and second pairs of lock hoppers. Operation of the second cross-tie during product removal cycles is controlled in accordance with reactor pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Lucas, Handel D. Bennett, David T. Lakin, Aaron C. McGinnis, Benjamin J. Ohran, David J. Sandell
  • Publication number: 20220064343
    Abstract: Gas phase polymerization processes include contacting an input stream comprising a monomer and an induced condensing agent in the presence of an inert gas with a catalyst in a fluidized bed reactor to produce a polymer, unreacted monomer, and an output gas; recycling a recycle stream of the unreacted monomer from the reactor to the input stream; venting at least a portion of the output gas from the reactor; and maintaining a partial pressure of the inert gas in the reactor above a reference inert gas pressure to decrease losses of the recycle stream with the vented output gas. The processes may include controlling the inert gas partial pressure to vary the total reactor pressure up to the maximum safe pressure, without causing carry-over of product polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Inventors: Michael D. Lucas, Anne Bernard-Brunel, Ryan W. Impelman, Keng-Hua Beh, Diwaker Singh, Rui Hoong Chong, Corrine L. Brandl, Luis A. Sotomayor
  • Publication number: 20210292445
    Abstract: In a process for producing an olefin polymer, at least one olefin monomer is polymerized in a polymerization reactor to produce a particulate polymer product containing hydrocarbon impurities including unreacted monomer and other C1 to C8 hydrocarbons. The polymer product is contacted with a gas-containing stream in a stripping vessel under conditions effective to strip hydrocarbon impurities from the polymer product and produce a stripped particulate polymer product and a gaseous first effluent stream containing inert gas and hydrocarbon impurities. The stripped particulate polymer product is recovered and the atmosphere adjacent the stripped particulate polymer product is sensed with a photoionization detector configured to ionize C4 to C8 hydrocarbons. The amount of the gas-containing stream supplied to the stripping vessel is then adjusted based upon such sensing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Michael D. Lucas, Philip W. Livanec, Christian T. Lund
  • Publication number: 20210079126
    Abstract: A process for producing an olefin polymer employs a gas phase polymerization reactor having a product discharge system comprising first and second pairs of lock hoppers, wherein each pair comprises an upstream lock hopper connected by valve means to the reactor and a downstream lock hopper connected by valve means to the upstream lock hopper and by further valve means to a product recovery system, and wherein a first cross-tie is provided between the upstream lock hoppers of the first and second pairs of lock hoppers and a second cross-tie is provided between the downstream lock hoppers of the first and second pairs of lock hoppers. Operation of the second cross-tie during product removal cycles is controlled in accordance with reactor pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Michael D. Lucas, Handel D. Bennett, David T. Lakin, Aaron C. McGinnis, Benjamin J. Ohran, David J. Sandell
  • Patent number: 10577024
    Abstract: A bracket for use in supporting a module within a vehicle. The bracket includes a first end, a second end, and a bracket body extending between the first end and the second end. The bracket body includes at least one attachment point defined at each of the first end and the second end, a first side that defines a mounting surface, and a second side opposite the first side. The bracket body also includes a reinforced side wall that extends about the at least one attachment point. The reinforced side wall is configured to define a bushing receptacle on both the first side and the second side of the bracket body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Evan D. Flickinger, Nobuteru Fujii, Akihiko Koike, Michael D. Lucas
  • Publication number: 20190389513
    Abstract: A bracket for use in supporting a module within a vehicle. The bracket includes a first end, a second end, and a bracket body extending between the first end and the second end. The bracket body includes at least one attachment point defined at each of the first end and the second end, a first side that defines a mounting surface, and a second side opposite the first side. The bracket body also includes a reinforced side wall that extends about the at least one attachment point. The reinforced side wall is configured to define a bushing receptacle on both the first side and the second side of the bracket body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Publication date: December 26, 2019
    Inventors: Evan D. Flickinger, Nobuteru Fujii, Akihiko Koike, Michael D. Lucas
  • Publication number: 20160318495
    Abstract: A parking brake system for a vehicle includes a parking brake wire configured to be routed along the vehicle to a wheel assembly and a mounting bracket coupled to the parking brake wire. The mounting bracket is configured to mount the parking brake wire to an undercarriage of the vehicle. The mounting bracket has an edge configured to face a fuel tank of the vehicle. A crash protection sleeve is coupled to the parking brake wire near the mounting bracket. The crash protection sleeve is positioned to engage the fuel tank prior to the edge of the mounting bracket engaging the fuel tank in an event of a vehicle crash. The crash protection sleeve may surround the parking brake wire and may prevent contact of the mounting bracket with the fuel tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Applicant: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael D. Lucas, Nobuteru Fujii
  • Patent number: 8899533
    Abstract: A hydraulic brake hose assembly includes a suspension component, a brake hose connected to the suspension component, and a support bracket connected to the brake hose and the suspension component. The support bracket includes a base having a forward edge portion, a rear edge portion and opposite side edge portions. A forward wall extends upwardly from the forward edge portion. A sidewall extends upwardly from one of the side edge portions. A single mounting opening is located on the base. An anti-rotation tab extends downwardly from the base. The suspension component includes a portion having a mounting aperture and a recess respectively corresponding with the single mounting opening and the anti-rotation tab of the support bracket. The support bracket prevents rotation of the brake hose relative to the support bracket as the support bracket is secured to the portion of the suspension component via a single fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Michael D. Lucas, Jeffrey D. Platt, Peter M. Schupska, Kirk S. Rhoades, Brian Doorlag
  • Publication number: 20140197285
    Abstract: A hydraulic brake hose assembly includes a suspension component, a brake hose connected to the suspension component, and a support bracket connected to the brake hose and the suspension component. The support bracket includes a base having a forward edge portion, a rear edge portion and opposite side edge portions. A forward wall extends upwardly from the forward edge portion. A sidewall extends upwardly from one of the side edge portions. A single mounting opening is located on the base. An anti-rotation tab extends downwardly from the base. The suspension component includes a portion having a mounting aperture and a recess respectively corresponding with the single mounting opening and the anti-rotation tab of the support bracket. The support bracket prevents rotation of the brake hose relative to the support bracket as the support bracket is secured to the portion of the suspension component via a single fastener.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Michael D. Lucas, Jeffrey D. Platt, Peter M. Schupska, Kirk S. Rhoades, Brian Doorlag