Patents by Inventor Paul Smits

Paul Smits 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: 20150109651
    Abstract: A optical filter comprising a variable transmittance layer having a first spectrum in a dark state, and a second spectrum in a faded state; and a color balancing layer having a third spectrum; each of the first, second and third spectra comprising a visible portion; the first and third spectra combining to provide a dark state spectrum approximating a dark state target color; and the second and third spectra combining to provide a fades state spectrum approximating a faded state target colour. The optical filter may further comprise a light attenuating layer. The optical filter may further comprise part of a laminated glass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: Switch Materials Inc.
    Inventors: Neil Robin Branda, Zachary Bryce Erno, Jeremy Graham Finden, Duhane Lam, Charles Joseph Gongming Loo, Jonathan Ross Sargent, Matthew Paul Smit, Peter Alexander Von Hahn, Douglas Malcolm Wiggins
  • Patent number: 8979069
    Abstract: A closure component for solids-handling equipment includes a closure body configured to close a solids flow path by displacement of the closure body along a stroke axis and a removable metallic sealing element attached to the closure body. The metallic sealing element is configured sealingly to engage an endless metallic seat spaced radially outwardly from the stroke axis when the closure body closes the solids flow path. The closure body includes or defines at least one locating formation to engage and locate the metallic sealing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Sasol Technology (Proprietary) Limited
    Inventors: Paul Smit Baumann, Daniel Francis
  • Patent number: 8940668
    Abstract: A method of treating a very high salinity high temperature hydrocarbon containing formation is described. The method includes (a) providing a hydrocarbon recovery composition to at least a portion of a hydrocarbon containing formation having a brine salinity of above about 13 wt % and a temperature of above about 7° C., wherein the composition comprises a C15-18 internal olefin sulfonate; and (b) allowing the composition to interact with hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Julian Richard Barnes, Kirk Herbert Raney, Thomas Carl Semple, Johan Paul Smit, Jasper Roelf Smit, Malcolm Shpakoff
  • Publication number: 20140290953
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon recovery composition comprising vinylidene olefin sulfonates is described. A method of treating a crude oil formation and a method of preparing the hydrocarbon recovery composition are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: Julian Richard Barnes, Robert Hardy Ellison, Maura Puerto, Kirk Herbert Raney, Johan Paul Smit
  • Publication number: 20140230702
    Abstract: A grate assembly (10) for a gasifier for gasifying carbonaceous material producing ash includes an upper rotatable grate component (11) and a lower rotatable support structure (12) fastened to the upper rotatable grate component (11) by a plurality of removable fasteners (15) acting to prevent vertical displacement of the upper rotatable grate component (11) and the lower rotatable support structure (12). The lower rotatable support structure (12) is configured to be drivingly rotated about a common vertical axis of rotation (21) shared with the upper rotatable grate component (11). The assembly (1) further includes at least two key torque transmitters (16) spaced angularly relative to the common axis of rotation (21) and engaging the upper rotatable grate component (11) and the lower rotatable support structure (12) to transfer torque from the lower rotatable support structure (12) to the upper rotatable grate component (11) when the lower rotatable support structure (12) is driven.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: SASOL Technology (Proprietary) Limited
    Inventors: Paul Smit Baumann, Daniel Francis
  • Publication number: 20140191151
    Abstract: A seat component (17) for solids-handling equipment includes a metal seat body (32) defining an endless hardened metal seat surface (40) for a closure component (16) to seat against with metal-to-metal contact and with a solids flow path extending through the seat body (32). The seat body (32) includes an endless recess (50) spaced radially outwardly from the hardened metal seat surface (40), which has a mouth (52) and an interior (54) communicating with the mouth (52) and extending away from the mouth (52) into the seat body (32). The interior (54) of the recess (50) has at least one region (56) which is wider than the mouth (52) or which is wider than a narrower region of the recess (50) between the wider region (56) and the mouth (52). The wider region (56) is defined by at least one step-wise change in the width of the recess (50).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2012
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: SASOL TECHNOLOGY (PROPRIETARY) LIMITED
    Inventors: Paul Smit Baumann, Daniel Francis
  • Patent number: 8759261
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation comprising (a) providing a hydrocarbon recovery composition to at least a portion of the hydrocarbon containing formation, wherein the composition comprises one or more internal olefin sulfonates having 17 or more carbon atoms, (b) adding water and/or brine from the hydrocarbon formation to the composition, (c) adding a solubilizer which comprises an ethoxylated alcohol wherein the alcohol before ethoxylation had an average molecular weight of at least about 220 and (d) allowing the composition to interact with hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing formation. The solubilizer may comprise less than about 0.1 wt %, preferably from about 0.02 to about 0.05 wt %, of the total composition and it may have from about 5 to about 9 moles of ethylene oxide per mole of alcohol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Julian Richard Barnes, Kirk Herbert Raney, Thomas Carl Semple, Paul Gregory Shpakoff, Johan Paul Smit, Jasper Roelf Smit
  • Publication number: 20140135551
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a ligand and its use in a catalyst for the oligomerization of olefinic monomers, the ligand having the general formula (VI); (R9)(R10)P—N(R3)—P(R4)??(VI) wherein: the R9 and R10 groups are independently selected from optionally substituted alkyl or heteroalkyl groups; the R3 group is selected from hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group, a heterohydrocarbyl group, a substituted heterohydrocarbyl group, a silyl group or derivative thereof; the R4 group is an optionally substituted alkylenedioxy, alkylenedimercapto or alkylenediamino structure which is bound to the phosphorus atom through the two oxygen, sulphur or nitrogen atoms of the alkylenedioxy, alkylenedimercapto or alkylenediamino structure or an optionally substituted arylenedioxy, arylenedimercapto or arylenediamino structure which is bound to the phosphorus atom through the two oxygen, sulphur or nitrogen atoms of the arylenedioxy, arylenedimercapto or arylenediamino structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Eric Johannes Maria DE BOER, Harry VAN DER HEIJDEN, Quoc An ON, Johan Paul SMIT, Arie VAN ZON
  • Publication number: 20140124692
    Abstract: A closure component for solids-handling equipment includes a closure body configured to close a solids flow path by displacement of the closure body along a stroke axis and a removable metallic sealing element attached to the closure body. The metallic sealing element is configured sealingly to engage an endless metallic seat spaced radially outwardly from the stroke axis when the closure body closes the solids flow path. The closure body includes or defines at least one locating formation to engage and locate the metallic sealing element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: SASOL TECHNOLOGY (PROPRIETARY) LIMITED
    Inventors: Paul Smit Baumann, Daniel Francis
  • Patent number: 8680220
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a ligand and its use in a catalyst for the oligomerization of olefinic monomers, the ligand having the general formula (VI): (R9)(R10)P—N(R3)—P(R4)??(VI) wherein: the R9 and R10 groups are independently selected from optionally substituted alkyl or heteroalkyl groups; the R3 group is selected from hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group, a heterohydrocarbyl group, a substituted heterohydrocarbyl group, a silyl group or derivative thereof; the R4 group is an optionally substituted alkylenedioxy or alkylenedimercapto structure which is bound to the phosphorus atom through the two oxygen or sulphur atoms of the alkylenedioxy or alkylenedimercapto structure or an optionally substituted arylenedioxy or arylenedimercapto structure which is bound to the phosphorus atom through the two oxygen or sulphur atoms of the arylenedioxy or arylenedimercapto structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Eric Johannes Maria De Boer, Harry Van Der Heijden, Quoc An On, Johan Paul Smit, Arie Van Zon
  • Patent number: 8637617
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a ligand and its use in a catalyst for the oligomerization of olefinic monomers, the ligand having the general formula (IV); (R8)(R1)P—N(R3)—P(R4)??(IV).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Eric Johannes Maria De Boer, Harry Van Der Heijden, Quoc An On, Johan Paul Smit, Arie Van Zon
  • Publication number: 20140005082
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon recovery composition comprising vinylidene based alkoxylate derivatives. A method of treating a crude oil formation and a method of preparing the hydrocarbon recovery composition are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventors: Julian Richard Barnes, James Laurel Buechele, Robert Hardy Ellison, Kirk Herbert Raney, Thomas Carl Semple, Johan Paul Smit
  • Publication number: 20130303636
    Abstract: A method (100) of recovering tar from the gasification of a carbonaceous feedstock includes gasifying (12) a carbonaceous feedstock (14) to produce a raw gas (20) which includes at least CO, H2, tar and entrained solids, the raw gas (20) being at a temperature of at least 250° C. and a pressure of at least 15 bar (g). The raw gas (20) is quenched and washed (22) with a quench liquid (24) producing a solids-containing liquid stream (32) which includes tars, the solids-containing liquid stream being at a temperature of at least 150° C. and a pressure of at least 15 bar (g). Solids (56) are separated (46) from the solids-containing liquid stream (32) to provide a tar recovery stream (102). The tar recovery stream (102) is treated by at least cooling (34) and pressure expansion (36) thereof to produce a tar stream (58).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventors: Gerhard Gustav Schmitt, Paul Smit Baumann, Johannes Willem Van Zyl
  • Publication number: 20130296201
    Abstract: An injectable fluid for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation is described. The injectable fluid includes ((i) when the salinity of the brine is from about 2 wt % to about 4 wt %, a composition that comprises a blend of a C20-24 internal olefin sulfonate and a C24-28 internal olefin sulfonate wherein the weight ratio of the C20-24 internal olefin sulfonate to the C24-28 internal olefin sulfonate is from about 90:10 to about 70:30 and (ii) when the salinity of the brine is greater than about 4 wt % up to about 13 wt %, a composition comprises a blend of a C20-24 internal olefin sulfonate and a C15-18 internal olefin sulfonate wherein the weight ratio of the C20-24 internal olefin sulfonate to the C15-18 internal olefin sulfonate is from about 90:10 to about 70:30.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Julian Richard BARNES, Kirk Herbert RANEY, Thomas Carl SEMPLE, Paul Gregory SHIPAKOFF, Johan Paul SMIT
  • Publication number: 20130278989
    Abstract: A self-powered variable transmittance optical device, such as a smart window or other device, and associated method are provided. The device comprises one or more transparent substrates, with a switching material disposed thereon or therebetween. The switching material may be a hybrid photochromic/electrochromic material capable of transitioning from a first transmittance state to a second transmittance state with application of electricity, and from second state to first state due to another stimulus, such as UV radiation. Electrodes are coupled to the switching material for applying electricity. An electrical system provides for controllable application of the electricity, and may store energy. Energy is provided by an energy-harvesting power source such as a solar cell or other photovoltaic source, or array thereof, or another device for harvesting vibrational or thermal energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: SWITCH MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Duhane Lam, Neil Robin Branda, Matthew Paul Smit, Peter Alexander Von Hahn
  • Patent number: 8513168
    Abstract: A method of treating a hydrocarbon containing formation is described. The method includes (a) providing a hydrocarbon recovery composition to at least a portion of the hydrocarbon containing formation, wherein (i) when the salinity of the brine is from about 2 wt % to about 4 wt %, the composition comprises a blend of a C20-24 internal olefin sulfonate and a C24-28 internal olefin sulfonate wherein the weight ratio of the C20-24 internal olefin sulfonate to the C24-28 internal olefin sulfonate is from about 90:10 to about 70:30 and (ii) when the salinity of the brine is greater than about 4 wt % up to about 13 wt % the composition comprises a blend of a C20-24 internal olefin sulfonate and a C15-18 internal olefin sulfonate wherein the weight ratio of the C20-24 internal olefin sulfonate to the C15-18 internal olefin sulfonate is from about 90:10 to about 70:30; and (b) allowing the composition to interact with hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Julian Richard Barnes, Kirk Herbert Raney, Thomas Carl Semple, Paul Gregory Shpakoff, Johan Paul Smit
  • Publication number: 20130190543
    Abstract: A method is provided for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation. The method comprises providing a hydrocarbon recovery composition comprising a mixture of branched internal olefin sulfonate molecules, and contacting hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing formation with the hydrocarbon recovery composition. The mixture of branched internal olefin sulfonate molecules has an average number of carbon atoms of between 19 and 23, and an average number of branches of at least 0.6 per molecule. A hydrocarbon composition produced from a hydrocarbon containing formation, and a hydrocarbon recovery composition comprising a mixture of branched internal olefin sulfonate molecules are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Inventors: Julian Richard Barnes, Hendrik Dirkzwager, Quoc An On, Johan Paul Smit, Jasper Roelf Smit
  • Patent number: 8476181
    Abstract: The present invention relates to catalyst systems and a process for the simultaneous trimerization and tetramerization of olefinic monomers using those ligands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Eric Johannes Maria De Boer, Harry Van Der Heijden, Quoc An On, Johan Paul Smit, Arie Van Zon
  • Patent number: 8252874
    Abstract: The present invention relates to ligands and catalyst systems and a process for the simultaneous trimerization and tetramerization of olefinic monomers using said ligands, the ligands having the general formula (I): (R1)2P—P(R1)m(R2)n?N(R3)??(I) wherein R3 is selected from hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl group, a substituted hydrocarbyl group, a heterohydrocarbyl group, a substituted heterohydrocarbyl group, a silyl group or derivative thereof; the R1 groups are independently selected from an optionally substituted aromatic group bearing a polar substituent on at least one of the ortho-positions; and the R2 groups are independently selected from hydrocarbyl, substituted hydrocarbyl, heterohydrocarbyl and substituted heterohydrocarbyl groups with the proviso that when the group is aromatic it does not contain a polar substituent at any of the ortho-positions; with the proviso that m is 0 or 1, n is 1 or 2 and the total of m+n is 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Eric Johannes Maria De Boer, Harry Van Der Heijden, Quoc An On, Johan Paul Smit, Arie Van Zon
  • Publication number: 20120181025
    Abstract: A method of treating a very high salinity high temperature hydrocarbon containing formation is described. The method includes (a) providing a hydrocarbon recovery composition to at least a portion of a hydrocarbon containing formation having a brine salinity of above about 13 wt % and a temperature of above about 7° C., wherein the composition comprises a C15-18 internal olefin sulfonate; and (b) allowing the composition to interact with hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon containing formation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Inventors: Julian Richard Barnes, Kirk Herbert Raney, Thomas Carl Semple, Paul Gregory Shpakoff, Johan Paul Smit, Jasper Roelf Smit