Patents by Inventor Robert G. DePierri
Robert G. DePierri 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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Publication number: 20240382918Abstract: The present disclosure provides a catalyst feeder for a polymerization process that uses a solid catalyst. A catalyst feeder includes a housing, a plug disposed radially inside the housing and rotatable relative to the housing, and an end plate coupled to the housing. If the plug is in a first rotational position, each one of a first plurality of magnets coupled, to an axial end of the plug is axially aligned with one of a. second plurality of magnets coupled to a surface of the end plate facing towards the axial end of the plug, thereby moving the plug towards a first seated position in relation to the housing. If the plug is in a second rotational position, the plurality of first magnets and the plurality of second magnets are axially offset from each other, thereby moving the plug towards an unseated position in relation to the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2022Publication date: November 21, 2024Inventors: Timothy J. POIRRIER, Robert G. DEPIERRI, Keith W. TRAPP
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Publication number: 20240165687Abstract: Benders are disclosed relating to the convenient, accurate, and precise bending of tubing. Example benders include features such as a mandrel, adjustable mechanical stops, and scales having relatively high resolution along with significant distance from a central axis of the mandrel. Certain benders may include separate fine and coarse adjustments to bend angles and support mechanisms for controlling the bend plane angle.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 19, 2023Publication date: May 23, 2024Inventor: Robert G. DePierri
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Patent number: 11794233Abstract: Benders are disclosed relating to the convenient, accurate, and precise bending of tubing. Example benders include features such as a mandrel, adjustable mechanical stops, and scales having relatively high resolution along with significant distance from a central axis of the mandrel. Certain benders may include separate fine and course adjustments to bend angles and support mechanisms for controlling the bend plane angle.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2022Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Inventor: Robert G. DePierri
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Patent number: 10920889Abstract: A rotating shaft seal for a rotating shaft containing a rotating assembly attached to the rotating shaft, wherein the sealing force applied to both ends of the rotating shaft within the housing is created within the rotating assembly and is applied substantially equally to both seal rings.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2017Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.Inventors: Norman F. Cook, III, Robert G. Depierri
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Publication number: 20190211932Abstract: A rotating shaft seal for a rotating shaft containing a rotating assembly attached to the rotating shaft, wherein the sealing force applied to both ends of the rotating shaft within the housing is created within the rotating assembly and is applied substantially equally to both seal rings.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2017Publication date: July 11, 2019Inventors: Norman F. Cook, III, Robert G. Depierri
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Patent number: 9662624Abstract: Both a catalyst feed system and a method are provided for providing a flow, of a mud-like catalyst slurry into a polyolefin reactor. The system includes a pressurized reservoir of the catalyst having an outlet, and a progressive cavity pump including a stator and a rotor. The pump stator has an inlet connected to the reservoir outlet, and an outlet leading to the polyolefin reactor. In operation, the reservoir is first pressurized to a level a little higher than the pressure of the reactor. The outlet of the reservoir is opened and the progressive cavity pump is actuated. The pressure drop generated across the catalyst slurry contained in the reservoir by the pump causes the slurry diluent to flow between the interstices of the particles of catalyst. The thick, mud-like catalyst slurry is quickly transformed into a much less viscous, syrup-like slurry that flows from the reservoir outlet to the inlet of the pump stator.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2009Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.Inventors: Robert G. Depierri, J. Charles Dabadie, N. Frank Cook, III
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Publication number: 20120275931Abstract: Both a catalyst feed system and a method are provided for providing a flow, of a mud-like catalyst slurry into a polyolefin reactor. The system includes a pressurized reservoir of the catalyst having an outlet, and a progressive cavity pump including a stator and a rotor. The pump stator has an inlet connected to the reservoir outlet, and an outlet leading to the polyolefin reactor. In operation, the reservoir is first pressurized to a level a little higher than the pressure of the reactor. The outlet of the reservoir is opened and the progressive cavity pump is actuated. The pressure drop generated across the catalyst slurry contained in the reservoir by the pump causes the slurry diluent to flow between the interstices of the particles of catalyst. The thick, mud-like catalyst slurry is quickly transformed into a much less viscous, syrup-like slurry that flows from the reservoir outlet to the inlet of the pump stator.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2009Publication date: November 1, 2012Applicant: EXXONMOBIL CHEMICAL PATENTS INC.Inventors: Robert G. Depierri, J. Charles Dabadie, N. Frank Cook, III
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Patent number: 8124019Abstract: The pump assembly includes an impeller rotatably mounted in a pipe of the reactor having blades that generate a flow of fluid slurry through the pipe, a nosecone protruding in an upstream direction in front of the impeller blades that rotates along with the blades, and a plurality of stationary guide vanes connected to the housing upstream of the impeller blades and having free ends that are radially spaced apart from the nosecone. The leading edges of the stationary vanes are shaped to direct any stringy material into the radial gaps between the free ends of the stationary vanes and the rotating nose cone to be shredded and thus prevent fouling and clogging of the pump assembly when such stringy material is generated during the polymerization process.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2010Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.Inventors: Robert G. DePierri, Norman F. Cook
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Publication number: 20110046322Abstract: The pump assembly includes an impeller rotatably mounted in a pipe of the reactor having blades that generate a flow of fluid slurry through the pipe, a nosecone protruding in an upstream direction in front of the impeller blades that rotates along with the blades, and a plurality of stationary guide vanes connected to the housing upstream of the impeller blades and having free ends that are radially spaced apart from the nosecone. The leading edges of the stationary vanes are shaped to direct any stringy material into the radial gaps between the free ends of the stationary vanes and the rotating nose cone to be shredded and thus prevent fouling and clogging of the pump assembly when such stringy material is generated during the polymerization process.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2010Publication date: February 24, 2011Inventors: Robert G. DePierri, Norman F. Cook, III
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Patent number: 7381777Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for controlling fouling in the reaction zone of slurry-type olefin polymerization reactors by measuring a process operating parameter and by responding to said process operating parameter, e.g., by introducing a gaseous poison for the polymerization catalyst in response to a comparison between said measured parameter and a fouling parameter limit for said measured parameter.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2007Date of Patent: June 3, 2008Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.Inventors: Thomas W. Towles, James E. Skinner, Robert G. DePierri, James Austin Kendrick
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Patent number: 6926868Abstract: A process/apparatus is disclosed for continuously separating a liquid medium comprising diluent and unreacted monomers from a polymerization effluent of a slurry loop reactor containing a flow of slurry therein, comprising a discharge conduit extending a distance into the loop reactor; the conduit having a longitudinal axis and an opening inside the loop reactor; at least a portion of the conduit being curved along its longitudinal axis inside the loop reactor; and the opening substantially facing the flow of the slurry, wherein the discharge conduit is located within a lower leg of the loop reactor such that a continuous discharge of the polymerization effluent from a slurry reactor through a discharge valve and transfer conduit into a first intermediate pressure flash tank wherein volatile inert diluent and unreacted monomers are removed and the polymer solids which remain after removal of about 50 to 100% of the inert diluent therefrom to a second flash tank at a lower pressure.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2001Date of Patent: August 9, 2005Inventors: James Austin Kendrick, Thomas W. Towles, Scott Thomas Roger, Robert G. DePierri
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Publication number: 20020132936Abstract: A process/apparatus is disclosed for continuously separating a liquid medium comprising diluent and unreacted monomers from a polymerization effluent comprising diluent, unreacted monomers and polymer solids, comprising a continuous discharge of the polymerization effluent from a slurry reactor through a discharge valve and transfer conduit into a first intermediate pressure flash tank with a conical bottom defined by substantially straight sides inclined at an angle to that of horizontal equal to or greater than the angle of slide of the slurry/polymer solids and an exit seal chamber of such diameter (d) and length (l) as to maintain a desired volume of concentrated polymer solids/slurry in the exit seal chamber such as to form a pressure seal while continuously discharging a plug flow of concentrated polymer solids/slurry bottom product of the first flash tank from the exit seal chamber through a seal chamber exit reducer with inclined sides defined by substantially straight sides inclined at an angle to thType: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2001Publication date: September 19, 2002Inventors: James Austin Kendrick, Thomas W. Towles, Scott Thomas Roger, Robert G. DePierri