Patents by Inventor Robert Peter Dowd

Robert Peter Dowd 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: 8323359
    Abstract: A crystallizer system for forming solid crystals includes a vessel defining a cylindrical sidewall, a sparge device located at a bottom of the vessel, a plurality of impellers attached to a shaft, and a plurality of redistribution funnel assemblies vertically spaced apart. Each funnel assembly may be positioned underneath a respective impeller of the plurality of impellers. Each funnel assembly may include a funnel, a disc attached to the shaft such that the disc rotates with the impellers, and a channel extending radially inward from a location near the sidewall. The channel may be adapted to direct gas bubbles from the sidewall to a location near blade outer edges of the respective impeller A lower edge of the funnel and the disc may define a lower gap therebetween, such that solid particles falling from within the funnel are directed out of the lower gap when the disc is rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignees: Philadelphia Mixing Solutions, Ltd, Carmeuse Lime, Inc.
    Inventors: Wojciech Wyczalkowski, Robert W. Higbee, Chris Hibshman, Kevin Smith, Robert Peter Dowd, Carl P. Laird
  • Publication number: 20110110831
    Abstract: A crystallizer system for forming solid crystals includes a vessel defining a cylindrical sidewall, a sparge device located at a bottom of the vessel, a plurality of impellers attached to a shaft, and a plurality of redistribution funnel assemblies vertically spaced apart. Each funnel assembly may be positioned underneath a respective impeller of the plurality of impellers. Each funnel assembly may include a funnel, a disc attached to the shaft such that the disc rotates with the impellers, and a channel extending radially inward from a location near the sidewall. The channel may be adapted to direct gas bubbles from the sidewall to a location near blade outer edges of the respective impeller A lower edge of the funnel and the disc may define a lower gap therebetween, such that solid particles falling from within the funnel are directed out of the lower gap when the disc is rotated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventors: Wojciech Wyczalkowski, Robert W. Higbee, Chris Hibshman, Kevin Smith, Robert Peter Dowd, Carl P. Laird
  • Patent number: 7377497
    Abstract: A system for introducing air into a slurry in a flue gas desulphurization process includes a stationary lance and an impeller. The lance include an outlet portion and a vane assembly. The outlet directs air away from the impeller. The vane assembly may produce turbulence and may convert a portion of the swirling flow from the impeller into longitudinal flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Philadelphia Gear Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Peter Dowd, Wojciech Wyczalkowski, Peter John Knights
  • Patent number: 6464227
    Abstract: A fluid seal having differing fluid levels is provided on opposite sides of a downwardly opening cup-shaped container that is longitudinally lapped by an upwardly opening annular container that is sealed to a vessel such that the lip of the cup-shaped container is submerged. The fluid seal creates a hydrostatic pressure barrier between ambient and a vessel, for example at a rotating vertical shaft. Relatively high speeds are permitted without leakage due to a number of internal horizontal and vertical baffles on one or more walls of the annular container. Barrier fluid losses due to evaporation or the like can be replaced in an embodiment wherein condensed process fluid is used as the barrier fluid, and wherein excess barrier fluid is returned to the vessel while maintaining a differential pressure barrier via the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Philadelphia Gear Corporation
    Inventors: Wojciech R. Wyczalkowski, Steven C. Roselle, Robert Peter Dowd, Ronnie G. Thompson, Ravi K. Sharma