Patents by Inventor Robert J. Fiocco
Robert J. Fiocco 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: 5728320Abstract: An improved dispersant formulation for dispersing oil which contains a mixture of a sorbitan monoester of an aliphatic monocarboxylic acid, a polyoxyethylene adduct of a sorbitan monoester of an aliphatic monocarboxylic acid, an alkali metal salt of a dialkyl sulfosuccinate, a polyoxyethylene adduct of a sorbitan triester or a sorbitol hexaester of an aliphatic monocarboxylic acid and a solvent comprising at least one of a propylene glycol ether, ethylene glycol ether, water, alcohol, glycol, and a paraffinic hydrocarbon.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 1997Date of Patent: March 17, 1998Assignee: Exxon Research & Engineering CompanyInventors: Robert J. Fiocco, Kenneth W. Becker, Gerard P. Canevari, Richard R. Lessard
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Patent number: 5618468Abstract: An improved dispersant formulation for dispersing oil which contains a mixture of a sorbitan monoester of an aliphatic monocarboxylic acid, a polyoxyethylene adduct of a sorbitan monoester of an aliphatic monocarboxylic acid, a water-dispersible salt of a dialkyl sulfosuccinate, a polyoxyethylene adduct of a sorbitan triester or a sorbitol hexaester of an aliphatic monocarboxylic acid and a glycol ether which has a maximum water solubility of 25 ml/100 ml as solvent.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 1994Date of Patent: April 8, 1997Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering CompanyInventors: Gerard P. Canevari, Robert J. Fiocco, Kenneth W. Becker, Richard R. Lessard
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Patent number: 4748006Abstract: The present invention is predicated on the discovery that emulsion prone zones generally occur in extractors at the end or region where feed is introduced and spent solvent is withdrawn. The build-up of feed droplets in this zone occurs because of slow coalescence rate, higher liquid loadings, lower interfacial tension, smaller density difference, and the like, in this zone. Accordingly, the present invention, in its simplest sense comprises a vertical extractor column having a settling zone located at one end of a mixing zone and having coalescence media located in the settling zone. Importantly, the coalescence media is positioned so as to promote the drainage of coalesced droplets to the side of the extractor where they drain back into the mixing zone. Preferably weir means are located in the settling zone between the coalescence media and the mixing zone for collecting coalesced droplets.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 1986Date of Patent: May 31, 1988Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering CompanyInventor: Robert J. Fiocco
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Patent number: 4634578Abstract: The present invention comprises a reciprocating plate extractor column having a coalescence media located at least in the zone within the column where emulsions are likely to be formed. Preferably, the coalescence media is one which will be wetted by the dispersed phase under conditions of use. More preferably, however, the coalescence media will be a combination of two materials, one of which is wetted by the dispersed phase and one of which is wetted by the continuous phase. Also, in one embodiment of the present invention, anti-bypass means are included to direct the flow of fluid from the coalescence media toward the zone containing the reciprocating plates.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 1985Date of Patent: January 6, 1987Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering CompanyInventor: Robert J. Fiocco
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Patent number: 4619709Abstract: The present invention comprises a method for removing residual hydrocarbon fluids from pipe systems by contacting the hydrocarbon with a solution containing a hydrocarbon-stripping agent which is capable of decreasing the wetting characteristics of the residual hydrocarbon on the internal surfaces of the pipe system whereby the film retracts from the surface and forms droplets which are thereafter removed with the water solution. Specific hydrocarbon-stripping agents are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 1984Date of Patent: October 28, 1986Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Co.Inventor: Robert J. Fiocco
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Patent number: 4588563Abstract: A liquid-liquid contacting apparatus of the type having at least two vertically spaced apart sieve tray assemblies includes vertical weirs between groups of sieve holes (preferably rows) in the sieve tray and, for each sieve tray located with the apparatus, a sloped collector-coalescer plate which provides a coalescence surface for dispersed phase droplets and directs the dispersed phase to the rows of sieve holes on the sieve trays. Additionally, the collector-coalescer plate prevents the dispersed phase droplets from impacting directly on the sieve holes where new drops of dispersed phase are being formed. This arrangement of sieve holes, weirs and collector-coalescer plate provides for steady controlled flow of dispersed phase throughout the apparatus over an exceptionally wide flow range and within a narrow, efficient fluid flow velocity through the sieve holes, e.g., a velocity of from about 0.6 to about 1.0 ft/sec.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 1984Date of Patent: May 13, 1986Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Co.Inventor: Robert J. Fiocco
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Patent number: 4528068Abstract: An improved sealed-sieve tray extraction tower has pipe means located in at least a portion of the downcomer or upcomer zones, as the case may be, for delivering at least a portion of a first continuous phase through the downcomer or upcomer zone such that it is not broken into fine droplets thereby minimizing the potential for dispersion of the continuous phase.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 1984Date of Patent: July 9, 1985Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Co.Inventors: Robert J. Fiocco, Edward Niessen
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Patent number: 4519901Abstract: An improved extractive separation process is described. This process is directed at splitting the feed and/or recycle stream to the extraction zone, to improve extraction zone performance. A further improvement may be achieved if at least a portion of the recycle stream is added to the extraction zone above the point where all the feed stream is added to the extraction zone.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 1983Date of Patent: May 28, 1985Assignee: Exxon Research & Engineering Co.Inventor: Robert J. Fiocco
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Patent number: 4511537Abstract: An improved cascade weir type extraction zone is described in which at least one of the weir means is disposed above the associated tray. This improved extraction zone is of particular utility in lube oil processing operations.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 1982Date of Patent: April 16, 1985Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Co.Inventors: Robert J. Fiocco, James D. Bushnell