Patents by Inventor Robert A. Freitas

Robert A. Freitas 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: 20230407197
    Abstract: A feedstock delivery system transfers a carbonaceous material, such as municipal solid waste, into a product gas generation system. The feedstock delivery system includes a splitter for splitting bulk carbonaceous material into a plurality of carbonaceous material streams. Each stream is processed using a weighing system for gauging the quantity of carbonaceous material, a densification system for forming plugs of carbonaceous material, a de-densification system for breaking up the plugs of carbonaceous material, and a gas and carbonaceous material mixing system for forming a carbonaceous material and gas mixture. A pressure of the mixing gas is reduced prior to mixing with the carbonaceous material, and the carbonaceous material to gas weight ratio is monitored. A transport assembly conveys the carbonaceous material and gas mixture to a first reactor where at least the carbonaceous material within the mixture is subject to thermochemical reactions to form the product gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Ravi Chandran, Daniel A. Burciaga, Daniel Michael Leo, Shawn Robert Freitas, Dave G. Newport, Justin Kevin Miller, Kaitlin Emily Harrington, Brian Christopher Attwood
  • Publication number: 20230391618
    Abstract: A system and method for processing unconditioned syngas first removes solids and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC), then removes volatile organic compounds (VOC), and then removes at least one sulfur containing compound from the syngas. Additional processing may be performed depending on such factors as the source of syngas being processed, the products, byproducts and intermediate products desired to be formed, captured or recycled and environmental considerations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2023
    Publication date: December 7, 2023
    Inventors: Ravi Chandran, Daniel Michael Leo, Shawn Robert Freitas, Dave G. Newport, Hamilton Sean Michael Whitney, Daniel A. Burciaga
  • Publication number: 20230296163
    Abstract: A selective motion transfer mechanism acts to transmit rotary motion between a common element and a selected one of multiple channel elements. The common element can be positioned in alignment with any one of the channel elements, and when so aligned, rotation of one of the aligned elements causes rotation of the other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: James MacArthur, Robert A. Freitas, Jr., James F. Ryley, III
  • Patent number: 11760631
    Abstract: A system and method for processing unconditioned syngas first removes solids and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC), then removes volatile organic compounds (VOC), and then removes at least one sulfur containing compound from the syngas. Additional processing may be performed depending on such factors as the source of syngas being processed, the products, byproducts and intermediate products desired to be formed, captured or recycled and environmental considerations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: ThermoChem Recovery International, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravi Chandran, Daniel Michael Leo, Shawn Robert Freitas, Dave G. Newport, Hamilton Sean Michael Whitney, Daniel A. Burciaga
  • Patent number: 11708384
    Abstract: Systems and methods for mechanosynthesis are disclosed, including those that avoid the need for a bootstrap process, avoid the need to build tips via mechanosynthesis, avoid the need for charging tips with feedstock during a build sequence, avoid the need to dispose of reaction byproducts, which reduce the design complexity of new tips, and/or which reduce or avoid the need for multiple positional means and/or tip switching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: CBN Nano Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph C. Merkle, Robert A. Freitas, Jr., Jeremy Barton, Aru Hill, Michael Drew, Damian Allis, Tait Takatani, Terry McCallum, Marius Mamone, Nicolas Zindy, Kashif Tanveer
  • Patent number: 11634650
    Abstract: A feedstock delivery system transfers a carbonaceous material, such as municipal solid waste, into a product gas generation system. The feedstock delivery system includes a splitter for splitting bulk carbonaceous material into a plurality of carbonaceous material streams. Each stream is processed using a weighing system for gauging the quantity of carbonaceous material, a densification system for forming plugs of carbonaceous material, a de-densification system for breaking up the plugs of carbonaceous material, and a gas and carbonaceous material mixing system for forming a carbonaceous material and gas mixture. A pressure of the mixing gas is reduced prior to mixing with the carbonaceous material, and the carbonaceous material to gas weight ratio is monitored. A transport assembly conveys the carbonaceous material and gas mixture to a first reactor where at least the carbonaceous material within the mixture is subject to thermochemical reactions to form the product gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: ThermoChem Recovery International, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravi Chandran, Daniel A. Burciaga, Daniel Michael Leo, Shawn Robert Freitas, Dave G. Newport, Justin Kevin Miller, Kaitlin Emily Harrington, Brian Christopher Attwood
  • Publication number: 20230121665
    Abstract: A feedstock flexible process for converting feedstock into oil and gas includes (i) indirectly heated hydrous devolatilization of volatile feedstock components, (ii) indirectly heated thermochemical conversion of fixed carbon feedstock components, (iii) heal integration and recovery, (iv) vapor and gas pressurization, and (v) vapor and gas clean-up and product recovery. A system and method for feedstock conversion includes a thermochemical reactor integrated with one or more hydrous devolatilization and solids circulation subsystems configured to accept a feedstock mixture, comprised of volatile feedstock components and fixed carbon feedstock components, and continuously produce a volatile reaction product stream therefrom, while simultaneously and continuously capturing, transferring, and converting the fixed carbon feedstock components to syngas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Ravi Chandran, Daniel Michael Leo, Shawn Robert Freitas
  • Patent number: 11592463
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for performing mechanosynthesis, including those that involve bulk chemical preparation of tips, multiple tips for supplying feedstock, and use of sequential tips such as in a thermodynamic cascade; such features may simplify starting requirements, increase versatility, and/or reduce complexity in the mechanosynthesis equipment and/or process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: CBN Nano Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph C. Merkle, Robert A. Freitas, Jr., Jeremy Barton, Damian Allis, Tait Takatani, Michael Shawn Marshall, Matthew Kennedy
  • Patent number: 11479727
    Abstract: A feedstock flexible process for converting feedstock into oil and gas includes (i) indirectly heated hydrous devolatilization of volatile feedstock components, (ii) indirectly heated thermochemical conversion of fixed carbon feedstock components, (iii) heat integration and recovery, (iv) vapor and gas pressurization, and (v) vapor and gas clean-up and product recovery. A system and method for feedstock conversion includes a thermochemical reactor integrated with one or more hydrous devolatilization and solids circulation subsystems configured to accept a feedstock mixture, comprised of volatile feedstock components and fixed carbon feedstock components, and continuously produce a volatile reaction product stream therefrom, while simultaneously and continuously capturing, transferring, and converting the fixed carbon feedstock components to syngas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: ThermoChem Recovery International, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravi Chandran, Daniel Michael Leo, Shawn Robert Freitas
  • Publication number: 20220325194
    Abstract: A feedstock delivery system transfers a carbonaceous material, such as municipal solid waste, into a product gas generation system. The feedstock delivery system includes a splitter for splitting bulk carbonaceous material into a plurality of carbonaceous material streams. Each stream is processed using a weighing system for gauging the quantity of carbonaceous material, a densification system for forming plugs of carbonaceous material, a de-densification system for breaking up the plugs of carbonaceous material, and a gas and carbonaceous material mixing system for forming a carbonaceous material and gas mixture. A pressure of the mixing gas is reduced prior to mixing with the carbonaceous material, and the carbonaceous material to gas weight ratio is monitored. A transport assembly conveys the carbonaceous material and gas mixture to a first reactor where at least the carbonaceous material within the mixture is subject to thermochemical reactions to form the product gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Publication date: October 13, 2022
    Inventors: Ravi Chandran, Daniel A. Burciaga, Daniel Michael Leo, Shawn Robert Freitas, Dave G. Newport, Justin Kevin Miller, Kaitlin Emily Harrington, Brian Christopher Attwood
  • Patent number: 11370982
    Abstract: A feedstock delivery system transfers a carbonaceous material, such as municipal solid waste, into a product gas generation system. The feedstock delivery system includes a splitter for splitting bulk carbonaceous material into a plurality of carbonaceous material streams. Each stream is processed using a weighing system for gauging the quantity of carbonaceous material, a densification system for forming plugs of carbonaceous material, a de-densification system for breaking up the plugs of carbonaceous material, and a gas and carbonaceous material mixing system for forming a carbonaceous material and gas mixture. A pressure of the mixing gas is reduced prior to mixing with the carbonaceous material, and the carbonaceous material to gas weight ratio is monitored. A transport assembly conveys the carbonaceous material and gas mixture to a first reactor where at least the carbonaceous material within the mixture is subject to thermochemical reactions to form the product gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: ThermoChem Recovery International, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravi Chandran, Daniel A. Burciaga, Daniel Michael Leo, Shawn Robert Freitas, Dave G. Newport, Justin Kevin Miller, Kaitlin Emily Harrington, Brian Christopher Attwood
  • Patent number: 11355772
    Abstract: Devices powered by fuel cells can be operated for extended durations when the fuel cells are adapted to extract the necessary reactants for generating power from the surrounding environment and when the concentration of reactants in that environment is maintained at a sufficient level by interaction between the environment and a reactant-enriched atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: CBN Nano Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: James F. Ryley, III, Robert A. Freitas, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20220154930
    Abstract: A multi-stage product gas generation system converts a carbonaceous material, such as municipal solid waste, into a product gas which may subsequently be converted into a liquid fuel or other material. One or more reactors containing bed material may be used to conduct reactions to effect the conversions. Unreacted inert feedstock contaminants present in the carbonaceous material may be separated from bed material using a portion of the product gas. A heat transfer medium collecting heat from a reaction in one stage may be applied as a reactant input in another, earlier stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2022
    Publication date: May 19, 2022
    Applicant: ThermoChem Recovery International, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravi Chandran, Daniel A. Burciaga, Daniel Michael Leo, Shawn Robert Freitas, Dave G. Newport, Justin Kevin Miller, Kaitlin Emily Harrington, Brian Christopher Attwood
  • Publication number: 20220106338
    Abstract: Systems and methods for mechanosynthesis are disclosed, including those that avoid the need for a bootstrap process, avoid the need to build tips via mechanosynthesis, avoid the need for charging tips with feedstock during a build sequence, avoid the need to dispose of reaction byproducts, which reduce the design complexity of new tips, and/or which reduce or avoid the need for multiple positional means and/or tip switching.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2021
    Publication date: April 7, 2022
    Inventors: Ralph C. Merkle, Robert A. Freitas, JR., Jeremy Barton, Aru Hill, Michael Drew, Damian Allis, Tait Takatani, Terry McCallum, Marius Mamone, Nicolas Zindy, Kashif Tanveer
  • Publication number: 20220098036
    Abstract: A system and method for processing unconditioned syngas first removes solids and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC), then removes volatile organic compounds (VOC), and then removes at least one sulfur containing compound from the syngas. Additional processing may be performed depending on such factors as the source of syngas being processed, the products, byproducts and intermediate products desired to be formed, captured or recycled and environmental considerations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Publication date: March 31, 2022
    Applicant: ThermoChem Recovery International, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravi Chandran, Daniel Michael Leo, Shawn Robert Freitas, Dave G. Newport, Hamilton Sean Michael Whitney, Daniel A. Burciaga
  • Patent number: 11242988
    Abstract: A multi-stage product gas generation system converts a carbonaceous material, such as municipal solid waste, into a product gas which may subsequently be converted into a liquid fuel or other material. One or more reactors containing bed material may be used to conduct reactions to effect the conversions. Unreacted inert feedstock contaminants present in the carbonaceous material may be separated from bed material using a portion of the product gas. A heat transfer medium collecting heat from a reaction in one stage may be applied as a reactant input in another, earlier stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: ThermoChem Recovery International, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravi Chandran, Daniel A. Burciaga, Daniel Michael Leo, Shawn Robert Freitas, Dave G. Newport, Justin Kevin Miller, Kaitlin Emily Harrington, Brian Christopher Attwood
  • Publication number: 20210403322
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for performing mechanosynthesis, including those that involve bulk chemical preparation of tips, multiple tips for supplying feedstock, and use of sequential tips such as in a thermodynamic cascade; such features may simplify starting requirements, increase versatility, and/or reduce complexity in the mechanosynthesis equipment and/or process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Ralph C. Merkle, Robert A. Freitas, JR., Jeremy Barton, Damian Allis, Tait Takatani, Michael Shawn Marshall, Matthew Kennedy
  • Patent number: 11186483
    Abstract: A system and method for processing unconditioned syngas first removes solids and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC), then removes volatile organic compounds (VOC), and then removes at least one sulfur containing compound from the syngas. Additional processing may be performed depending on such factors as the source of syngas being processed, the products, byproducts and intermediate products desired to be formed, captured or recycled and environmental considerations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: ThermoChem Recovery International, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravi Chandran, Daniel Michael Leo, Shawn Robert Freitas, Dave G. Newport, Hamilton Sean Michael Whitney, Daniel A. Burciaga
  • Patent number: 11180514
    Abstract: Systems and methods for mechanosynthesis are disclosed, including those that avoid the need for a bootstrap process, avoid the need to build tips via mechanosynthesis, avoid the need for charging tips with feedstock during a build sequence, avoid the need to dispose of reaction byproducts, which reduce the design complexity of new tips, and/or which reduce or avoid the need for multiple positional means and/or tip switching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: CBN Nano Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph C. Merkle, Robert A. Freitas, Jr., Jeremy Barton, Aru Hill, Michael Drew, Damian Allis, Tait Takatani
  • Patent number: 11155461
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and tools for the synthesis of atomically-precise products via mechanosynthesis are disclosed, including a set of atomically-precise tips and associated reactions, methods for determining build sequences for workpieces, exemplary build sequences, and methods for creating new reactions, build sequences, and tips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: CBN Nano Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Freitas, Jr., Ralph C. Merkle