Patents by Inventor Peter D. Hicks
Peter D. Hicks 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: 10197824Abstract: A method of obtaining or maintaining optical transference into deaerated liquid in contact with a light transference medium is disclosed. The method comprises applying ultrasonic energy at a wavelength (?) into deaerated liquid in contact with a light transference medium. The ultrasonic energy at wavelength (?) originates at a distance (d) from an optical signal transmitted into the light transference medium. The distance (d) may be defined by a formula based on the wavelength (?) of the ultrasonic energy.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2015Date of Patent: February 5, 2019Assignee: ECOLAB USA INC.Inventors: Peter D. Hicks, Hui Li, Michael E. Bradley, Michael J. Murcia, Joe L. Schwartz
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Publication number: 20160201896Abstract: A clean-in-place method of maintaining optical transference through a light transference medium operably connected to a boiler system is disclosed. The method comprises inter alia contacting a liquid chemical agent to a wetted surface of a light transference medium. The liquid chemical agent is selected from the group consisting of an acid, a chelant, a reducing agent, and combinations thereof, for a period of time and at a concentration sufficient to clean the wetted surface of the light transference medium.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2015Publication date: July 14, 2016Applicant: Ecolab USA Inc.Inventors: Peter D. Hicks, Hui Li, Michael E. Bradley, Michael J. Murcia, Rodney H. Banks, Joe L. Schwartz
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Publication number: 20160202508Abstract: A method of obtaining or maintaining optical transference into deaerated liquid in contact with a light transference medium is disclosed. The method comprises applying ultrasonic energy at a wavelength (?) into deaerated liquid in contact with a light transference medium. The ultrasonic energy at wavelength (?) originates at a distance (d) from an optical signal transmitted into the light transference medium. The distance (d) may be defined by a formula based on the wavelength (?) of the ultrasonic energy.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 8, 2015Publication date: July 14, 2016Applicant: ECOLAB USA INC.Inventors: Peter D. Hicks, Hui Li, Michael E. Bradley, Michael J. Murcia, Joe L. Schwartz
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Patent number: 9352980Abstract: Disclosed is a method of controlling a real-time oxidation-reduction potential in a hot water system to inhibit corrosion in the hot water system. The method includes defining one or more operational protective zones in the hot water system. One or more of the operational protective zones includes an oxidation-reduction potential probe that is operable to measure a real-time oxidation-reduction potential in the hot water system at operating temperature and pressure. The probe transmits the measured real-time potential to the controller, which assesses and interprets the transmitted potential to determine whether it conforms to an oxidation-reduction potential setting. If the measured potential does not conform the oxidation-reduction potential setting, the controller is operable to feed or remove one or more active chemical species into or from the hot water system and further operable to change at least one system parameter.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2014Date of Patent: May 31, 2016Assignee: Nalco CompanyInventors: Peter D. Hicks, David A. Grattan
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Patent number: 9243814Abstract: A device for measuring oxidation-reduction potential at operating temperature and pressure in hot water systems is disclosed and claimed. The device includes a flow-through cell, a sensor, and a reference electrode. The components of the device work in conjunction with the other components and have electrical connections that transmit signals to a controller. The controller calculates and determines adjustments to feedwater chemistry for the hot water system.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2014Date of Patent: January 26, 2016Assignee: NALCO COMPANYInventors: Peter D. Hicks, M. Alexandra Knoth
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Patent number: 9194789Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring and monitoring the corrosion potential of engineering alloys used in aqueous systems is disclosed and claimed. The method is applicable for a variety of alloys including, but not limited to, copper-based, iron-based, nickel-based, other metallic-based alloys, and their combinations. The corrosion potential is typically determined by measuring a voltage between a specific material in the described oxidation-reduction potential measuring device and a reference electrode. Corrosion potentials for specific materials of construction may be used for diagnostic or control purposes.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2014Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: NALCO COMPANYInventor: Peter D. Hicks
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Publication number: 20150068921Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring and monitoring the corrosion potential of engineering alloys used in aqueous systems is disclosed and claimed. The method is applicable for a variety of alloys including, but not limited to, copper-based, iron-based, nickel-based, other metallic-based alloys, and their combinations. The corrosion potential is typically determined by measuring a voltage between a specific material in the described oxidation-reduction potential measuring device and a reference electrode. Corrosion potentials for specific materials of construction may be used for diagnostic or control purposes.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2014Publication date: March 12, 2015Applicant: NALCO COMPANYInventor: Peter D. Hicks
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Patent number: 8906202Abstract: This invention relates to a method and system for detecting contamination of boiler condensate and/or boiler feedwater in a papermaking process. The method includes measuring an oxidation-reduction potential at one or more locations in the boiler condensate and/or the boiler feedwater of the papermaking process with one or more corrosion stress monitoring devices. A controller is operable to assess whether the measured or a calculated oxidation-reduction potential is within an optimum range. The controller is operable to cause transmission of a signal to direct feeding an effective amount of one or more reductants and/or one or more pH-controlling chemicals into the boiler feedwater and/or one or more a satellite feed locations of the papermaking process.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2009Date of Patent: December 9, 2014Assignee: Nalco CompanyInventors: David A. Grattan, Peter D. Hicks, George T. Totura
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Patent number: 8888988Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring and monitoring the corrosion potential of engineering alloys used in aqueous systems is disclosed and claimed. The method is applicable for a variety of alloys including, but not limited to, copper-based, iron-based, nickel-based, other metallic-based alloys, and their combinations. The corrosion potential is typically determined by measuring a voltage between a specific material in the described oxidation-reduction potential measuring device and a reference electrode. Corrosion potentials for specific materials of construction may be used for diagnostic or control purposes.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2008Date of Patent: November 18, 2014Assignee: Nalco CompanyInventor: Peter D. Hicks
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Publication number: 20140311991Abstract: Disclosed is a method of controlling a real-time oxidation-reduction potential in a hot water system to inhibit corrosion in the hot water system. The method includes defining one or more operational protective zones in the hot water system. One or more of the operational protective zones includes an oxidation-reduction potential probe that is operable to measure a real-time oxidation-reduction potential in the hot water system at operating temperature and pressure. The probe transmits the measured real-time potential to the controller, which assesses and interprets the transmitted potential to determine whether it conforms to an oxidation-reduction potential setting. If the measured potential does not conform the oxidation-reduction potential setting, the controller is operable to feed or remove one or more active chemical species into or from the hot water system and further operable to change at least one system parameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2014Publication date: October 23, 2014Inventors: Peter D. Hicks, David A. Grattan
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Patent number: 8771593Abstract: Disclosed is a method of controlling a real-time oxidation-reduction potential in a hot water system to inhibit corrosion in the hot water system. The method includes defining one or more operational protective zones in the hot water system. One or more of the operational protective zones includes an oxidation-reduction potential probe that is operable to measure a real-time oxidation-reduction potential in the hot water system at operating temperature and pressure. The probe transmits the measured real-time potential to the controller, which assesses and interprets the transmitted potential to determine whether it conforms to an oxidation-reduction potential setting. If the measured potential does not conform the oxidation-reduction potential setting, the controller is operable to feed or remove one or more active chemical species into or from the hot water system and further operable to change at least one system parameter.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2012Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Nalco CompanyInventors: Peter D. Hicks, David A. Grattan
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Publication number: 20140166589Abstract: A device for measuring oxidation-reduction potential at operating temperature and pressure in hot water systems is disclosed and claimed. The device includes a flow-through cell, a sensor, and a reference electrode. The components of the device work in conjunction with the other components and have electrical connections that transmit signals to a controller. The controller calculates and determines adjustments to feedwater chemistry for the hot water system.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 20, 2014Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: NALCO COMPANYInventors: Peter D. Hicks, M. Alexandra Knoth
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Patent number: 8658095Abstract: A device for measuring oxidation-reduction potential at operating temperature and pressure in hot water systems is disclosed and claimed. The device includes a flow-through cell, an oxidation-reduction potential probe, a temperature detector, and an external pressure-balanced reference electrode assembly. Each component of the device works in conjunction with the other components and each has electrical connections that transmit signals to a controller. The controller calculates and determines adjustments to feedwater chemistry for the hot water system.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2008Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: Nalco CompanyInventors: Peter D. Hicks, M. Alexandra Knoth
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Patent number: 8658094Abstract: A device for measuring oxidation-reduction potential at operating temperature and pressure in hot water systems is disclosed and claimed. The device includes a flow-through cell, an oxidation-reduction potential probe, a temperature detector, and an external pressure-balanced reference electrode assembly. Each component of the device works in conjunction with the other components and each has electrical connections that transmit signals to a controller. The controller calculates and determines adjustments to feedwater chemistry for the hot water system.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2007Date of Patent: February 25, 2014Assignee: Nalco CompanyInventors: Peter D. Hicks, M. Alexandra Knoth
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Publication number: 20120234756Abstract: Disclosed is a method of controlling a real-time oxidation-reduction potential in a hot water system to inhibit corrosion in the hot water system. The method includes defining one or more operational protective zones in the hot water system. One or more of the operational protective zones includes an oxidation-reduction potential probe that is operable to measure a real-time oxidation-reduction potential in the hot water system at operating temperature and pressure. The probe transmits the measured real-time potential to the controller, which assesses and interprets the transmitted potential to determine whether it conforms to an oxidation-reduction potential setting. If the measured potential does not conform the oxidation-reduction potential setting, the controller is operable to feed or remove one or more active chemical species into or from the hot water system and further operable to change at least one system parameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2012Publication date: September 20, 2012Inventors: Peter D. Hicks, David A. Grattan
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Patent number: 8153057Abstract: Disclosed is a method of controlling a real-time oxidation-reduction potential in a hot water system to inhibit corrosion in the hot water system. The method includes defining one or more operational protective zones in the hot water system. One or more of the operational protective zones includes an oxidation-reduction potential probe that is operable to measure a real-time oxidation-reduction potential in the hot water system at operating temperature and pressure. The probe transmits the measured real-time potential to the controller, which assesses and interprets the transmitted potential to determine whether it conforms to an oxidation-reduction potential setting. If the measured potential does not conform the oxidation-reduction potential setting, the controller is operable to feed one or more active chemical species into the hot water system.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2007Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Nalco CompanyInventors: Peter D. Hicks, David A. Grattan
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Patent number: 8130106Abstract: This invention provides a method for detecting sugars in boiler condensate and/or boiler feedwater in industrial processes. The method includes measuring an oxidation-reduction potential at one or more locations in the process with one or more devices capable of measuring oxidation-reduction potential at operating temperature and pressure and correlating that measurement to an amount of sugar in the system. If the measured oxidation-reduction potential is not within an optimum range, action is taken.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2009Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: Nalco CompanyInventors: Peter D. Hicks, Jason S. Van't Hul
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Patent number: 8068033Abstract: This invention provides a method for detecting contamination of a boiler condensate and/or a boiler feedwater in industrial fermentation processes. The method includes measuring an oxidation-reduction potential at one or more locations in the fermentation process with one or more devices capable of measuring oxidation-reduction potential at operating temperature and pressure. If the measured oxidation-reduction potential is not within an optimum range, an alarm is triggered.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2008Date of Patent: November 29, 2011Assignee: Nalco CompanyInventors: Peter Blokker, Peter D. Hicks
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Patent number: 7998352Abstract: Disclosed is a method of inhibiting and/or removing deposits from internal surfaces in a hot water system. The method includes controlling a real-time oxidation-reduction potential in a hot water system to alter the dynamic between deposit constituents and the bulk water of the system to inhibit deposition or initiate deposit removal. The method is equally effective for a system undergoing a wet layup sequence or in an online operational system. The invention further includes a multi-component deposit inhibition and/or removal device, including a receiver, a processor, and a transmitter that work in unison to alter the system dynamics to inhibit or remove deposits.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2007Date of Patent: August 16, 2011Assignee: Nalco CompanyInventors: Peter D. Hicks, David A. Grattan
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Patent number: 7955853Abstract: Disclosed is a method of creating a real-time oxidation-reduction potential signature in a hot water system to detect REDOX stress and inhibit corrosion in the hot water system. The method includes defining one or more operational protective zones in the hot water system. One or more of the operational protective zones includes an oxidation-reduction potential probe that is operable to measure a real-time oxidation-reduction potential in the hot water system at operating temperature and pressure. The probe transmits the measured real-time potential to the controller, which analyzes and interprets the transmitted potential to create an oxidation-reduction potential signature for the hot water system. If the signature does not conform to an oxidation-reduction potential setting, the controller is operable to feed one or more active chemical species into the hot water system.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2007Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Assignee: Nalco CompanyInventors: Peter D. Hicks, David A. Grattan