Patents by Inventor Rick O'Neil

Rick O'Neil 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).

  • Method of agglomerating silicon/silicon carbide from wiresawing waste
    Patent number: 9228246
    Abstract: The process of the present invention begins with a source of silicon and silicon carbide from wafer production. The silicon/silicon carbide waste material is dewatered as need be and passed to a mixer where the waste material is agglomerated. A binder is applied to the waste material either during agglomeration or during pelletizing. A variety of organic binders may be used such as polyvinyl alcohol, molasses, sodium silicate and polyethylene glycol; however, the preferred binder is a lignosulsulfonate. The amount of binder used will depend upon the particular binder and the feed material used. The silicon/silicon carbide-containing waste material is pelletized. The invention also provided silicon/silicon carbide-containing pellets that may be used as reduction material in smelting furnaces for the production of metals and alloys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Inventors: Skip Fristoe, John Redshaw, Rick O'Neil, Darren Doell
  • METHOD OF AGGLOMERATING SILICON/SILICON CARBIDE FROM WIRESAWING WASTE AND PRODUCT THEREFROM
    Publication number: 20150047470
    Abstract: The process of the present invention begins with a source of silicon and silicon carbide from wafer production. The silicon/silicon carbide waste material is dewatered as need be and passed to a mixer where the waste material is agglomerated. A binder is applied to the waste material either during agglomeration or during pelletizing. A variety of organic binders may be used such as polyvinyl alcohol, molasses, sodium silicate and polyethylene glycol; however, the preferred binder is a lignosulsulfonate. The amount of binder used will depend upon the particular binder and the feed material used. The silicon/silicon carbide-containing waste material is pelletized. The invention also provided silicon/silicon carbide-containing pellets that may be used as reduction material in smelting furnaces for the production of metals and alloys.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Skip Fristoe, John Redshaw, Rick O'Neil, Darren Doell