Patents by Inventor Robert E. Leonard

Robert E. Leonard 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).

  • Patent number: 4729832
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for substantially reducing the concentration of coal tar based contaminants in waste water streams. The method comprises first forming an intimate mixture of the waste water stream to be treated with at least one coal tar based extractant. The intimate mixture then is subjected to an extraction temperature sufficient to reduce the concentration of the contaminant in the waste water stream to its equilibrium concentration as the extraction temperature employed. Finally, the mixture is separated and a treated waste water stream recovered which is characterized by a substantially reduced and constant concentration of the contaminants and a substantially reduced biological demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1988
    Assignee: Kerr-McGee Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Robert E. Leonard, Darrell W. Clinton
  • Patent number: 4670992
    Abstract: The invention relates to an improved process for drying and preserving wood products. The improved process comprises the steps of first drying the wood products by submerging them in a naphthalene poor, coal tar based heat transfer medium under conditions of elevated temperature and reduced pressure. The dried wood products then are impregnated with a naphthalene rich, coal tar based wood preservative agent by submerging said dried wood products in said agent under conditions of both elevated temperature and pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1987
    Assignee: Kerr-McGee Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Robert E. Leonard, William H. Lamansky
  • Patent number: 4667985
    Abstract: A bank check or like instrument has a marking area at the right side thereof which includes a plurality of rows and columns of blocks for receiving marks. The combination of the marked blocks represents a dollars and cents amount. The contiguous area adjacent the rows and columns of blocks is coated with wax to prevent marking outside the boundaries of the blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1987
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Robert E. Leonard, Robert E. Huser
  • Patent number: 4668539
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improvements in impregnated wood preserving processes utilizing naphthalene containing preservative agents comprising recovering that portion of the naphthalene stripped from the preservative agent during a drying phase in the process and returning said recovered naphthalene portion to the impregnation phase of said process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1987
    Assignee: Kerr-McGee Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Robert E. Leonard, William H. Lamansky
  • Patent number: 4305814
    Abstract: An energy efficient process for separating a hydrocarbonaceous material into various fractions. The hydrocarbonaceous material is admixed with a solvent and the mixture is introduced into a first separation zone maintained at an elevated first temperature and pressure. The feed mixture separates into a first light phase comprising solvent and at least a portion of the lightest hydrocarbonaceous material and a first heavy phase comprising the remainder of the hydrocarbonaceous material and some solvent. The first heavy phase is introduced into a second separation zone maintained at a second temperature level above the first temperature level and at an elevated pressure. The first heavy phase separates into a second light phase comprising solvent and a second heavy phase comprising at least a portion of the hydrocarbonaceous material. The separated hydrocarbonaceous material fractions are recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1981
    Assignee: Kerr-McGee Refining Corporation
    Inventor: Robert E. Leonard
  • Patent number: 4290880
    Abstract: A process for effecting a deep cut in a heavy hydrocarbon material without a decrease in the quality of the extracted oil caused by the presence of undesirable entrained resinous bodies and organometallic compounds. The heavy hydrocarbon material is contacted with a solvent in a first separation zone maintained at an elevated temperature and pressure to effect a separation of the feed into a first light phase and a first heavy phase comprising asphaltenes and some solvent. The first light phase is introduced into a second separation zone maintained at an elevated temperature and pressure to effect a separation of the first light phase into a second light phase comprising oils and solvent and a second heavy phase comprising resins and some solvent. A portion of the second heavy phase is withdrawn and introduced into an upper portion of the second separation zone to countercurrently contact the second light phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1980
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1981
    Assignee: Kerr-McGee Refining Corporation
    Inventor: Robert E. Leonard
  • Patent number: 4249951
    Abstract: A process for utilizing mineral-containing residue from coal liquefaction processes to produce a hydraulic cement. The residue is mixed with siliceous and calcareous matereals and compacted. The compacted solids are introduced into a kiln and fired to produce hydraulic cement clinker. The primary fuel for the clinker production is contained in the residue. The clinker is removed from the kiln and ground to produce cement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1981
    Assignee: Kerr-McGee Corporation
    Inventor: Robert E. Leonard
  • Patent number: 4244812
    Abstract: An improved system for deashing coal liquefaction products wherein a feed mixture (including a deashing solvent, soluble coal products and insoluble coal products) is separated in a first separation zone into a first light fraction and a first heavy fraction (including insoluble coal products and some deashing solvent). The first heavy fraction is withdrawn from the first separation zone and the pressure level of the first heavy fraction is reduced at least 100 psig for vaporizing the deashing solvent and for yielding a composition substantially comprising coal products. The composition is essentially a powdery, solid material and is capable of being transferred via a slurry or mechanical means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1981
    Assignee: Kerr-McGee Corporation
    Inventors: Roger A. Baldwin, Robert E. Davis, Robert E. Leonard
  • Patent number: 4164466
    Abstract: A coal deashing process wherein a feed mixture comprising soluble coal products, insoluble coal products and solvent is separated in a first separation zone into a first heavy phase and a first light phase comprising soluble coal products, solvent and some insoluble coal products. The first light phase is withdrawn and introduced into a second separation zone wherein it separates into a second heavy phase comprising insoluble coal products, soluble coal products and some solvent and a second light phase comprising soluble coal products and solvent. The second heavy phase is withdrawn and at least a portion is recycled to the first separation zone to increase the yield of separable soluble coal products ultimately recovered by the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1979
    Assignee: Kerr-McGee Corporation
    Inventors: Roger A. Baldwin, Robert E. Davis, Robert E. Leonard, Donald E. Rhodes
  • Patent number: 4162957
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process wherein solidified coal liquefaction products with or without other solid materials can be simultaneously melted and introduced at an elevated pressure into a process unit. The melting and introduction of the coal liquefaction products with or without other solid materials into the process unit is accomplished by an extruder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1979
    Assignee: Kerr-McGee Corporation
    Inventor: Robert E. Leonard
  • Patent number: 4162964
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for maintaining continuous operation of a coal deashing process during periods of normal operation wherein a dry, powdery ash concentrate composition is produced and during process upsets wherein undesired semi-solids or fluid compositions are produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1979
    Assignee: Kerr-McGee Corporation
    Inventor: Robert E. Leonard
  • Patent number: 4153538
    Abstract: A process for maintaining the fluid-like properties of a heavy phase being withdrawn from a separation zone maintained at elevated temperature and pressure during periods in which the flow of this heavy phase is terminated due to pressure reduction valve plugging or to permit cleaning of downstream processing apparatus. When the flow of withdrawn heavy phase is interrupted, deashed coal is melted, if necessary, and introduced under pressure into the withdrawal conduit to mix with the heavy phase therein. The mixture of deashed coal and heavy phase retains the fluid-like properties exhibited by the heavy phase and flow can be resumed once the downstream apparatus is repaired. Alternatively, other high-boiling aromatic materials may be used instead of the deashed coal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1979
    Assignee: Kerr-McGee Corporation
    Inventors: Robert E. Leonard, Donald E. Rhodes
  • Patent number: 4119524
    Abstract: An improved coal deashing process wherein coal is mixed with a first dissolving solvent, solubilized and flashed to provide a prepared mixture, and the prepared mixture is mixed with a second dissolving solvent to produce a feed mixture. The insoluble coal products produced are separated from the feed mixture as a first heavy fraction in a first separation zone and the soluble coal products are recovered as a second heavy fraction from a second separation zone. The second dissolving solvent is recovered from the first heavy fraction and the second heavy fraction for recycling to aid in the production of the feed mixture. The first dissolving solvent is recovered from the first and the second heavy fractions and recycled to aid in solubilization of the coal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1978
    Assignee: Kerr-McGee Corporation
    Inventors: Robert E. Leonard, Roger A. Baldwin
  • Patent number: 4090957
    Abstract: An improved coal processing system wherein relatively small droplets of a feed mixture (including both soluble and insoluble coal products) are dispersed in a first separation zone and contacted, countercurrently with a dissolving solvent to form a heavy fraction containing the insoluble coal products and a separate light fraction containing the soluble coal products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1978
    Assignee: Kerr-McGee Corporation
    Inventor: Robert E. Leonard
  • Patent number: 4070267
    Abstract: An improved system for processing coal wherein a feed mixture (comprising a dissolving solvent, insoluble coal products and soluble coal products) is separated in a first separation zone, provided with a coalescing section, into a first heavy fraction and a first light fraction (comprising soluble coal products, the dissolving solvent and some insoluble coal products), and a portion of the insoluble coal products is separated from the first light fraction by contacting at least the first light fraction with the coalescing section. Such contacting reduces the amount of insoluble coal products in the first light fraction withdrawn from the first separation zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1978
    Assignee: Kerr-McGee Corporation
    Inventor: Robert E. Leonard