Patents by Inventor Michael J. Binkley

Michael J. Binkley 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: 11958001
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a valve tray for use in a chemical process column. The valve tray includes a plurality of apertures formed therein. A plurality of valves are maintained in a spaced relationship relative to individual apertures of the plurality of apertures. An area of the individual apertures is less than an area of individual valves of the plurality of valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: SULZER MANAGEMENT AG
    Inventors: Phillip Bradley Fleming, Larry W. Burton, Michael J. Binkley
  • Publication number: 20210299589
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a valve tray for use in a chemical process column. The valve tray includes a plurality of apertures formed therein. A plurality of valves are maintained in a spaced relationship relative to individual apertures of the plurality of apertures. An area of the individual apertures is less than an area of individual valves of the plurality of valves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Phillip Bradley FLEMING, Larry W. BURTON, Michael J. BINKLEY
  • Patent number: 10576450
    Abstract: A structured packing sheet includes a top interface region, a first turning region, a central region, a second turning region, and a bottom interface region. The central region includes a plurality of corrugations extending thereacross in a linear fashion and arranged generally parallel to each other. The plurality of corrugations are arranged at a first angle with respect to a vertical axis. The top interface region and the bottom interface region include the plurality of corrugations extending thereacross in a linear fashion. The plurality of corrugations are arranged at a second angle with respect to the vertical axis. The second angle is smaller than the first angle. The first turning region and the second turning region include the plurality of corrugations extending thereacross. The plurality of corrugations have a plurality of breaks in the first turning region and the second turning region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: GTC Technology US LLC
    Inventors: Phillip Bradley Fleming, Casey F. Bowles, Michael J. Binkley
  • Patent number: 10561961
    Abstract: A valve-tray assembly and method for lighter fluid heavier fluid contact towers. The active area of the tray is constructed with valves having multiple lighter fluid discharge areas facilitating improved mass transfer efficiency. The valves include first and second support legs oriented in line with the heavier fluid flow with both legs and the valve top constructed with apertures wherein the heavier fluid may flow into engagement with the lighter fluid passing from beneath the tray up, through and out of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: GTC Technology US LLC
    Inventor: Michael J. Binkley
  • Publication number: 20190270031
    Abstract: A valve-tray assembly and method for lighter fluid heavier fluid contact towers. The active area of the tray is constructed with valves having multiple lighter fluid discharge areas facilitating improved mass transfer efficiency. The valves include first and second support legs oriented in line with the heavier fluid flow with both legs and the valve top constructed with apertures wherein the heavier fluid may flow into engagement with the lighter fluid passing from beneath the tray up, through and out of the valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Applicant: GTC Technology ;US LLC
    Inventor: Michael J. BINKLEY
  • Patent number: 10384147
    Abstract: A valve-tray assembly and method for lighter fluid heavier fluid contact towers. The active area of the tray is constructed with valves having multiple lighter fluid discharge areas facilitating improved mass transfer efficiency. The valves include first and second support legs oriented in line with the heavier fluid flow with both legs and the valve top constructed with apertures wherein the heavier fluid may flow into engagement with the lighter fluid passing from beneath the tray up, through and out of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: GTC Technology US LLC
    Inventor: Michael J. Binkley
  • Patent number: 10376810
    Abstract: A valve-tray assembly and method for lighter fluid heavier fluid contact towers. The active area of the tray is constructed with valves having multiple lighter fluid discharge areas facilitating improved mass transfer efficiency. The valves include first and second support legs oriented in line with the heavier fluid flow with both legs and the valve top constructed with apertures wherein the heavier fluid may flow into engagement with the lighter fluid passing from beneath the tray up, through and out of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: GTC Technology US LLC
    Inventor: Michael J. Binkley
  • Publication number: 20190193047
    Abstract: A structured packing sheet includes a top interface region, a first turning region, a central region, a second turning region, and a bottom interface region. The central region includes a plurality of corrugations extending thereacross in a linear fashion and arranged generally parallel to each other. The plurality of corrugations are arranged at a first angle with respect to a vertical axis. The top interface region and the bottom interface region include the plurality of corrugations extending thereacross in a linear fashion. The plurality of corrugations are arranged at a second angle with respect to the vertical axis. The second angle is smaller than the first angle. The first turning region and the second turning region include the plurality of corrugations extending thereacross. The plurality of corrugations have a plurality of breaks in the first turning region and the second turning region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Applicant: GTC Technology US LLC
    Inventors: Phillip Bradley FLEMING, Casey F. BOWLES, Michael J. BINKLEY
  • Publication number: 20190151767
    Abstract: A valve-tray assembly and method for lighter fluid heavier fluid contact towers. The active area of the tray is constructed with valves having multiple lighter fluid discharge areas facilitating improved mass transfer efficiency. The valves include first and second support legs oriented in line with the heavier fluid flow with both legs and the valve top constructed with apertures wherein the heavier fluid may flow into engagement with the lighter fluid passing from beneath the tray up, through and out of the valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: GTC Technology US LLC
    Inventor: Michael J. BINKLEY
  • Publication number: 20180207610
    Abstract: A structured packing sheet includes a top interface region, a first turning region, a central region, a second turning region, and a bottom interface region. The central region includes a plurality of corrugations extending thereacross in a linear fashion and arranged generally parallel to each other. The plurality of corrugations are arranged at a first angle with respect to a vertical axis. The top interface region and the bottom interface region include the plurality of corrugations extending thereacross in a linear fashion. The plurality of corrugations are arranged at a second angle with respect to the vertical axis. The second angle is smaller than the first angle. The first turning region and the second turning region include the plurality of corrugations extending thereacross. The plurality of corrugations have a plurality of breaks in the first turning region and the second turning region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Inventors: Phillip Bradley FLEMING, Casey F. Bowles, Michael J. BINKLEY
  • Publication number: 20180147504
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a valve tray for use in a chemical process column. The valve tray includes a plurality of apertures formed therein. A plurality of valves are maintained in a spaced relationship relative to individual apertures of the plurality of apertures. An area of the individual apertures is less than an area of individual valves of the plurality of valves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2018
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventors: Michael J. BINKLEY, Phillip Bradley FLEMING, Larry W. BURTON
  • Patent number: 9956540
    Abstract: A structured packing sheet includes a top interface region, a first turning region, a central region, a second turning region, and a bottom interface region. The central region includes a plurality of corrugations extending thereacross in a linear fashion and arranged generally parallel to each other. The plurality of corrugations are arranged at a first angle with respect to a vertical axis. The top interface region and the bottom interface region include the plurality of corrugations extending thereacross in a linear fashion. The plurality of corrugations are arranged at a second angle with respect to the vertical axis. The second angle is smaller than the first angle. The first turning region and the second turning region include the plurality of corrugations extending thereacross. The plurality of corrugations have a plurality of breaks in the first turning region and the second turning region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: GTC Technology US LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Binkley, Casey F. Bowles, Phillip Bradley Fleming
  • Publication number: 20170144121
    Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to a mixing system for use in a chemical-process column. The mixing system includes a heavy-reactant mixing surface arranged perpendicular to a flow of reactant through the chemical-process column. The mixing system also includes an aperture formed in the heavy-reactant mixing surface. A pre-distributor is coupled to an underside of the mixing system and fluidly coupled to the aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Publication date: May 25, 2017
    Applicant: GTC Technology US LLC
    Inventors: Ian G. Buttridge, SooWoong KIM, Michael J. BINKLEY
  • Publication number: 20170136385
    Abstract: A valve-tray assembly and method for lighter fluid heavier fluid contact towers. The active area of the tray is constructed with valves having multiple lighter fluid discharge areas facilitating improved mass transfer efficiency. The valves include first and second support legs oriented in line with the heavier fluid flow with both legs and the valve top constructed with apertures wherein the heavier fluid may flow into engagement with the lighter fluid passing from beneath the tray up, through and out of the valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Applicant: GTC Technology US LLC
    Inventor: Michael J. BINKLEY
  • Patent number: 9597650
    Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to a mixing system for use in a chemical-process column. The mixing system includes a heavy-reactant mixing surface arranged perpendicular to a flow of reactant through the chemical-process column. The mixing system also includes an aperture formed in the heavy-reactant mixing surface. A pre-distributor is coupled to an underside of the mixing system and fluidly coupled to the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: GTC Technology US LLC
    Inventors: Ian G. Buttridge, SooWoong Kim, Michael J. Binkley
  • Patent number: 9586160
    Abstract: A valve-tray assembly and method for lighter fluid heavier fluid contact towers. The active area of the tray is constructed with valves having multiple lighter fluid discharge areas facilitating improved mass transfer efficiency. The valves include first and second support legs oriented in line with the heavier fluid flow with both legs and the valve top constructed with apertures wherein the heavier fluid may flow into engagement with the lighter fluid passing from beneath the tray up, through and out of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: GTC Technology US LLC
    Inventor: Michael J. Binkley
  • Patent number: 9463397
    Abstract: A liquid flow distributor for positioning above one or more packing sections in a packed exchange tower includes a plurality of troughs. At least one trough in the plurality of troughs has along a side thereto a deflecting member The deflecting member is angulated to generally follow a shape of the at least one trough. A diffuser side of the deflecting member is positioned to deposit the liquid into a discharge region. A plurality of break bars are disposed on the diffuser side of the deflecting member. A deflector side of the deflecting member is positioned for deflecting ascending vapor away from the discharge region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: GTC Technology US LLC
    Inventors: Jae-Man Cho, Namsun Ku, Michael J. Binkley
  • Publication number: 20160228788
    Abstract: A separations tray assembly for use in a fluid-fluid exchange column. The separations tray assembly is of the type where a first fluid, in a continuous phase, is directed across successive trays in a serpentine flow path. A second fluid, in a dispersed phase ascends through apertures in the tray thus inducing interaction and mass transfer with the first fluid. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the separations tray further includes a diffuser skirt, having apertures disposed therein, operatively coupled to a fluid channel. The diffuser skirt is operable to direct the first fluid to cover substantially an entire volumetric cross-flow window between successive separations trays and to induce stirring and mixing of the first fluid and the second fluid to effect efficient mass transfer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Applicant: GTC Technology US, LLC
    Inventors: Ian G. Buttridge, David Lin, Casey F. Bowles, SooWoong KIM, Michael J. BINKLEY
  • Patent number: 9327209
    Abstract: A separations tray assembly for use in a fluid-fluid exchange column. The separations tray assembly is of the type where a first fluid, in a continuous phase, is directed across successive trays in a serpentine flow path. A second fluid, in a dispersed phase ascends through apertures in the tray thus inducing interaction and mass transfer with the first fluid. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the separations tray further includes a diffuser skirt, having apertures disposed therein, operatively coupled to a fluid channel. The diffuser skirt is operable to direct the first fluid to cover substantially an entire volumetric cross-flow window between successive separations trays and to induce stirring and mixing of the first fluid and the second fluid to effect efficient mass transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: GTC Technology US, LLC
    Inventors: Ian G. Buttridge, David Lin, Casey F. Bowles, SooWoong Kim, Michael J. Binkley
  • Publication number: 20160038851
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a valve tray for use in a chemical process column. The valve tray includes a plurality of apertures formed therein. A plurality of valves are maintained in a spaced relationship relative to individual apertures of the plurality of apertures. An area of the individual apertures is less than an area of individual valves of the plurality of valves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Applicant: GTC TECHNOLOGY US, LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. BINKLEY, SooWoong KIM, Phillip Bradley FLEMING