Patents by Inventor Mikel S. Olander
Mikel S. Olander 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).
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Patent number: 10527282Abstract: An example managed biochar kiln includes drum walls, a drum floor, and a lid formed to be fitted to a top edge of the drum walls to close a top end of the drum walls and form a combustion chamber between the lid, the drum walls, and the drum floor. The example managed biochar kiln also includes a chimney stack attachable to the lid. The example managed biochar kiln also includes a valve on the lid operable by an electronic controller to vary airflow through the chimney and out of the lid.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2018Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: Biochar Now, LLCInventors: Donald P. Aupperle, Mikel S. Olander, Benjamin M. Beierwaltes, William T. Beierwaltes, James G. Gaspard, II
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Patent number: 10370593Abstract: A controlled kiln and manufacturing system for biochar production, including control systems and subsystems. An example controlled kiln (100) includes a drum (200), a lid (120) and a floor (250) together forming a combustion chamber configured to contain feedstock for conversion into biochar. A catalytic converter (700) may be operatively coupled with an outlet of the kiln (100). A conversion process completion detection subsystem may be operative to issue notifications. An example biochar manufacturing system includes at least one of the controlled kilns (100), a feedstock filling station (1010, 1020, 1030) for providing feedstock to kiln 100, a firing line (1040) for receiving the kiln containing feedstock, a tipping station (1050) for receiving biochar from the kiln, a biochar sizing station, and an automated handler (800) configured to move the kiln between the feedstock filling station (1010, 1020, 1030), the firing line (1040) and the tipping station (1050).Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2013Date of Patent: August 6, 2019Assignee: Biochar Now, LLCInventors: Donald P. Aupperle, Mikel S. Olander, Benjamin M. Beierwaltes, William T. Beierwaltes, James G. Gaspard, II
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Patent number: 10323845Abstract: A controlled kiln and manufacturing system for biochar production includes control systems and subsystems. An example biochar kiln exhaust apparatus, includes a chimney configured for heating by pyrolysis and for exhausting smoke from the combustion chamber. The example biochar kiln exhaust apparatus also includes a plurality of exhaust inlet pipes configured to pass smoke from the combustion chamber to the chimney.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2017Date of Patent: June 18, 2019Assignee: Biochar Now, LLCInventors: Donald P. Aupperle, Mikel S. Olander, Benjamin M. Beierwaltes, William T. Beierwaltes, James G. Gaspard, II
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Patent number: 10253979Abstract: An example flow regulation system for a biochar kiln includes an air inlet port of the biochar kiln. The example flow regulation system also includes a port cover coupled to the air inlet ports. The example flow regulation system also includes an external flow regulation assembly coupled with the port cover. The example flow regulation system also includes a controller operating the external flow regulation assembly based on monitoring conditions of the biochar kiln to open and close the air inlet port.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2018Date of Patent: April 9, 2019Assignee: Biochar Now, LLCInventors: Donald P. Aupperle, Mikel S. Olander, Benjamin M. Beierwaltes, William T. Beierwaltes, James G. Gaspard, II
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Patent number: 10160911Abstract: An example exhaust system for a biochar kiln includes a chimney of the biochar kiln. The example exhaust system for a biochar kiln also includes a first forced air inlet on the chimney to draw smoke through the chimney during a preheating stage to prime the chimney. The example exhaust system for a biochar kiln also includes a second forced air inlet operatively coupled with the chimney. The second forced air inlet activated to increase airflow when air naturally occurring in a smoke stream in the chimney is insufficient, the second forced air inlet deactivated when there is sufficient air.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2018Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: BIOCHAR NOW, LLCInventors: Donald P. Aupperle, Mikel S. Olander, Benjamin M. Beierwaltes, William T. Beierwaltes, James G. Gaspard, II
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Patent number: 10138424Abstract: An example exhaust system for a biochar kiln includes a chimney of the biochar kiln. The example exhaust system for a biochar kiln also includes a first forced air inlet on the chimney to draw smoke through the chimney during a preheating stage to prime the chimney. The example exhaust system for a biochar kiln also includes a second forced air inlet operatively coupled with the chimney. The second forced air inlet activated to increase airflow when air naturally occurring in a smoke stream in the chimney is insufficient, the second forced air inlet deactivated when there is sufficient air.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2018Date of Patent: November 27, 2018Assignee: BIOCHAR NOW, LLCInventors: Donald P. Aupperle, Mikel S. Olander, Benjamin M. Beierwaltes, William T. Beierwaltes, James G. Gaspard, II
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Publication number: 20180282630Abstract: An example managed biochar kiln includes drum walls, a drum floor, and a lid formed to be fitted to a top edge of the drum walls to close a top end of the drum walls and form a combustion chamber between the lid, the drum walls, and the drum floor. The example managed biochar kiln also includes a chimney stack attachable to the lid. The example managed biochar kiln also includes a valve on the lid operable by an electronic controller to vary airflow through the chimney and out of the lid.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2018Publication date: October 4, 2018Inventors: Donald P. Aupperle, Mikel S. Olander, Benjamin M. Beierwaltes, William T. Beierwaltes, James G. Gaspard, II
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Publication number: 20180282629Abstract: An example flow regulation system for a biochar kiln includes an air inlet port of the biochar kiln. The example flow regulation system also includes a port cover coupled to the air inlet ports. The example flow regulation system also includes an external flow regulation assembly coupled with the port cover. The example flow regulation system also includes a controller operating the external flow regulation assembly based on monitoring conditions of the biochar kiln to open and close the air inlet port.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2018Publication date: October 4, 2018Inventors: Donald P. Aupperle, Mikel S. Olander, Benjamin M. Beierwaltes, William T. Beierwaltes, James G. Gaspard, II
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Publication number: 20180282628Abstract: An example exhaust system for a biochar kiln includes a chimney of the biochar kiln. The example exhaust system for a biochar kiln also includes a first forced air inlet on the chimney to draw smoke through the chimney during a preheating stage to prime the chimney. The example exhaust system for a biochar kiln also includes a second forced air inlet operatively coupled with the chimney. The second forced air inlet activated to increase airflow when air naturally occurring in a smoke stream in the chimney is insufficient, the second forced air inlet deactivated when there is sufficient air.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2018Publication date: October 4, 2018Inventors: Donald P. Aupperle, Mikel S. Olander, Benjamin M. Beierwaltes, William T. Beierwaltes, James G. Gaspard, II
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Publication number: 20180072954Abstract: An example heat recovery apparatus includes a chimney configured to exhaust air and smoke from a biochar kiln combustion chamber. The example heat recovery apparatus also includes a heat exchanger configured to recover heat from the chimney and provide the heat to a secondary application.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2017Publication date: March 15, 2018Inventors: Donald P. Aupperle, Mikel S. Olander, Benjamin M. Beierwaltes, William T. Beierwaltes, James G. Gaspard, II
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Publication number: 20180072953Abstract: A controlled kiln and manufacturing system for biochar production includes control systems and subsystems. An example biochar kiln exhaust apparatus, includes a chimney configured for heating by pyrolysis and for exhausting smoke from the combustion chamber. The example biochar kiln exhaust apparatus also includes a plurality of exhaust inlet pipes configured to pass smoke from the combustion chamber to the chimney.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2017Publication date: March 15, 2018Inventors: Donald P. Aupperle, Mikel S. Olander, Benjamin M. Beierwaltes, William T. Beierwaltes, James G. Gaspard, II
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Publication number: 20170369785Abstract: A controlled kiln and manufacturing system for biochar production includes control systems and subsystems. An example biochar kiln exhaust apparatus, includes a chimney configured for heating by pyrolysis and for exhausting smoke from the combustion chamber. The example biochar kiln exhaust apparatus also includes a plurality of exhaust inlet pipes configured to pass smoke from the combustion chamber to the chimney.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2017Publication date: December 28, 2017Inventors: Donald P. Aupperle, Mikel S. Olander, Benjamin M. Beierwaltes, William T. Beierwaltes, James G. Gaspard, II
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Patent number: 9752078Abstract: A controlled kiln and manufacturing system for biochar production includes control systems and subsystems. An example controlled kiln (100) includes a drum (200), a lid (120) and a floor (250) together forming a combustion chamber configured to contain feedstock for conversion into biochar. A catalytic converter (700) may be operatively coupled with an outlet of the kiln (100). A monitor and control subsystem may be operative to issue notifications or automatically end biochar conversion. A ventilation and exhaust system including independently controllable air inlet ports (240), a chimney (300) and smoke inlet pipes (330) enables regulation of smoke flow from a combustion chamber of the kiln while a heat exchanger (1000) enables providing exhaust heat to one or more secondary applications.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2013Date of Patent: September 5, 2017Assignee: Biochar Now, LLCInventors: Donald P. Aupperle, Mikel S. Olander, Benjamin M. Beierwaltes, William T. Beierwaltes, James G. Gaspard, II
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Publication number: 20150136581Abstract: A controlled kiln and manufacturing system for biochar production, including control systems and subsystems. An example controlled kiln (100) includes a drum (200), a lid (120) and a floor (250) together forming a combustion chamber configured to contain feedstock for conversion into biochar. A catalytic converter (700) may be operatively coupled with an outlet of the kiln (100). A conversion process completion detection subsystem may be operative to issue notifications. An example biochar manufacturing system includes at least one of the controlled kilns (100), a feedstock filling station (1010, 1020, 1030) for providing feedstock to kiln 100, a firing line (1040) for receiving the kiln containing feedstock, a tipping station (1050) for receiving biochar from the kiln, a biochar sizing station, and an automated handler (800) configured to move the kiln between the feedstock filling station (1010, 1020, 1030), the firing line (1040) and the tipping station (1050).Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2013Publication date: May 21, 2015Applicant: BIOCHAR NOW, LLCInventors: Donald P. Aupperle, Mikel S. Olander, Benjamin M. Beierwaltes, William T. Beierwaltes, James G. Gaspard, II
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Publication number: 20150040804Abstract: A controlled kiln and manufacturing system for biochar production includes control systems and subsystems. An example controlled kiln (100) includes a drum (200), a lid (120) and a floor (250) together forming a combustion chamber configured to contain feedstock for conversion into biochar. A catalytic converter (700) may be operatively coupled with an outlet of the kiln (100). A monitor and control subsystem may be operative to issue notifications or automatically end biochar conversion. A ventilation and exhaust system including independently controllable air inlet ports (240), a chimney (300) and smoke inlet pipes (330) enables regulation of smoke flow from a combustion chamber of the kiln while a heat exchanger (1000) enables providing exhaust heat to one or more secondary applications.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2013Publication date: February 12, 2015Inventors: Donald P. Aupperle, Mikel S. Olander, Benjamin M. Beierwaltes, William T. Beierwaltes, James G. Gaspard, II