Patents by Inventor Robert Wills

Robert Wills 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: 10512855
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a method for processing a beer stream for the recovery of oil. The method include a step of extracting oil from a beer stream into an organic phase comprising an organic solvent to provide in the organic phase at least a portion of the oil. In general, a beer stream refers to a composition containing alcohol, water, oil, and particulates, and can be a result of a fermentation process. When the beer stream is a beer stream from a fermentation process, it can be referred to as a fermentation broth even if it is no longer being subjected to fermentation. The beer stream can contain other components commonly found in a stream coming off a fermentation process such as, for example, glycerol and acetic acid. A method for producing ethanol, and an ethanol production facility are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: KFI Intellectual Properties L.L.C.
    Inventors: James Faulconbridge, Robert Wills
  • Patent number: 9851431
    Abstract: An antenna system (1) comprises a directional antenna (2) adapted to rotate through a range of directions in azimuth. It is responsive to radio-frequency (RF) signals received from directions within the range of directions in azimuth. A receiver (7) is arranged to receive the RF signals from the antenna within a signal frequency response band of the receiver and to provide a corresponding output for signal processing. A signal filter (11) is operable to block the output from the receiver when the frequency of the RF signal lies at a frequency within the signal frequency response band of the receiver and a detector unit (8) is arranged to apply the signal filter when the directional antenna is directed to a predetermined azimuth at which an interference source is located and to not apply the signal filter otherwise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: BAE SYSTEMS plc
    Inventors: Marcus Edward Clark, Robert Wills
  • Publication number: 20160303491
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a method for processing a beer stream for the recovery of oil. The method include a step of extracting oil from a beer stream into an organic phase comprising an organic solvent to provide in the organic phase at least a portion of the oil. In general, a beer stream refers to a composition containing alcohol, water, oil, and particulates, and can be a result of a fermentation process. When the beer stream is a beer stream from a fermentation process, it can be referred to as a fermentation broth even if it is no longer being subjected to feinientation. The beer stream can contain other components commonly found in a stream coming off a fermentation process such as, for example, glycerol and acetic acid. A method for producing ethanol, and an ethanol production facility are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: James Faulconbridge, Robert Wills
  • Patent number: 9260676
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a method for processing a beer stream for the recovery of oil. The method include a step of extracting oil from a beer stream into an organic phase comprising an organic solvent to provide in the organic phase at least a portion of the oil. In general, a beer stream refers to a composition containing alcohol, water, oil, and particulates, and can be a result of a fermentation process. When the beer stream is a beer stream from a fermentation process, it can be referred to as a fermentation broth even if it is no longer being subjected to fermentation. The beer stream can contain other components commonly found in a stream coming off a fermentation process such as, for example, glycerol and acetic acid. A method for producing ethanol, and an ethanol production facility are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: KFI Intellectual Properties L.L.C.
    Inventors: James Faulconbridge, Robert Wills
  • Publication number: 20150338504
    Abstract: An antenna system (1) comprises a directional antenna (2) adapted to rotate through a range of directions in azimuth. It is responsive to radio-frequency (RF) signals received from directions within the range of directions in azimuth. A receiver (7) is arranged to receive the RF signals from the antenna within a signal frequency response band of the receiver and to provide a corresponding output for signal processing. A signal filter (11) is operable to block the output from the receiver when the frequency of the RF signal lies at a frequency within the signal frequency response band of the receiver and a detector unit (8) is arranged to apply the signal filter when the directional antenna is directed to a predetermined azimuth at which an interference source is located and to not apply the signal filter otherwise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Publication date: November 26, 2015
    Applicant: BAE SYSTEMS Plc
    Inventors: MARCUS EDWARD CLARK, ROBERT WILLS
  • Publication number: 20140127769
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a method for processing a beer stream for the recovery of oil. The method include a step of extracting oil from a beer stream into an organic phase comprising an organic solvent to provide in the organic phase at least a portion of the oil. In general, a beer stream refers to a composition containing alcohol, water, oil, and particulates, and can be a result of a fermentation process. When the beer stream is a beer stream from a fermentation process, it can be referred to as a fermentation broth even if it is no longer being subjected to fermentation. The beer stream can contain other components commonly found in a stream coming off a fermentation process such as, for example, glycerol and acetic acid. A method for producing ethanol, and an ethanol production facility are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: KFI Intellectual Properties L.L.C.
    Inventors: James Faulconbridge, Robert Wills
  • Patent number: 8518673
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a method for processing a beer stream for the recovery of oil. The method includes a step of extracting oil from a beer stream into an organic phase comprising an organic solvent to provide in the organic phase at least a portion of the oil. In general, a beer stream refers to a composition containing alcohol, water, oil, and particulates, and can be a result of a fermentation process. The beer stream can contain other components commonly found in a stream coming off a fermentation process such as, for example, glycerol and acetic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: KFI Intellectual Properties L.L.C.
    Inventors: James Faulconbridge, Robert Wills
  • Publication number: 20100159547
    Abstract: A method for separating oil from flour includes steps of: separating flour into a first stream comprising coarse flour and a second stream comprising fine flour; combining a first extraction solvent with the first stream and extracting oil from the first stream to provide a first miscella and coarse solids; combining a second extraction solvent with the second stream and extracting oil from the second stream to form a second miscella and fine solids; and recovering oil from the first miscella and the second miscella.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: KFI Intellectual Properties L.L.C.
    Inventors: James Faulconbridge, Robert Wills
  • Publication number: 20090047720
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a method for processing a beer stream for the recovery of oil. The method include a step of extracting oil from a beer stream into an organic phase comprising an organic solvent to provide in the organic phase at least a portion of the oil. In general, a beer stream refers to a composition containing alcohol, water, oil, and particulates, and can be a result of a fermentation process. When the beer stream is a beer stream from a fermentation process, it can be referred to as a fermentation broth even if it is no longer being subjected to fermentation. The beer stream can contain other components commonly found in a stream coming off a fermentation process such as, for example, glycerol and acetic acid. A method for producing ethanol, and an ethanol production facility are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: KFI Intellectual Properties L.L.C.
    Inventors: James Faulconbridge, Robert Wills
  • Patent number: 7293681
    Abstract: A rack designed to provide convenient storage of doors optionally removable from “JEEP” style Sport Utility Vehicles. This allows a driver to operate the vehicle with the doors removed and thus free up interior space. The rack is mounted on the rear of the vehicle exteriorly of the rear-mounted spare tire. Mounted securely in the rack, the doors are spaced from the spare tire and are prevented from rubbing each other and the spare tire. The doors are therefore protected from scratches and abrasions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Inventor: Robert Wills
  • Publication number: 20060167380
    Abstract: The instant application relates to a collection kit for obtaining specimens from urine. The collection kit, according to instant invention, includes a collection receptacle, a denaturizing agent, an acid, a delivery device, a first cartridge, a resin cartridge including a resin, and a sterile packaging device. The first cartridge is adapted to filter out organic compounds, while the resin possesses an affinity to bind a nuclide. The sterile packaging device contains the collection receptacle, the denaturizing agent, the acid, the delivery device, the first cartridge, and the resin cartridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2005
    Publication date: July 27, 2006
    Inventors: John Morton, Robert Wills, Robert Timm, James Westmoreland
  • Publication number: 20060124544
    Abstract: A process for removing water from solid material (10) using liquid-solid extraction and liquid-liquid extraction in an extraction system (100). Multiple solvents are used sequentially to replace the water with a first solvent, then replacing that solvent with a second solvent, etc., then eventually removing the last solvent from the solid materials. The solvents have progressively lower heats of vaporization, enthalphy of vaporization, boiling point or related property, so as to conserve use of thermal energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Publication date: June 15, 2006
    Applicant: Karges-Faulconbridge, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Wills
  • Publication number: 20060086664
    Abstract: A process for removing water from solid material using liquid-solid extraction and liquid-liquid extraction. In most embodiments, multiple solvents are used to remove the water from the solids and obtain dry solids. Multiple solvents facilitate the removal of the water from the solids, by replacing the water with a solvent, replacing that solvent with a different solvent, and then eventually removing the second solvent from the solids. The process utilizes a lesser amount of thermal energy to dry the solids and separate the solvents than conventionally used in drying processes. The first solvent selected has a lower heat of vaporization, enthalphy of vaporization, boiling point, or other such physical property, than water. Each additional solvent can have a still lower heat of vaporization, enthalphy of vaporization, boiling point, or other such physical property.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Publication date: April 27, 2006
    Inventor: Robert Wills
  • Publication number: 20060057441
    Abstract: A technique that is usable with a fuel cell stack includes using a capacitance of the fuel cell stack as a main component of an input capacitance of an inverter. The technique may include, in some embodiments of the invention, using the capacitance of the fuel cell stack as a capacitance for a converter. For example, in these embodiments of the invention, the capacitance may be an input capacitance or an output capacitance of the converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Publication date: March 16, 2006
    Inventor: Robert Wills
  • Publication number: 20060011684
    Abstract: A rack designed to provide convenient storage of doors optionally removable from “JEEP” style Sport Utility Vehicles. This allows a driver to operate the vehicle with the doors removed and thus free up interior space. The rack is mounted on the rear of the vehicle exteriorly of the rear-mounted spare tire. Mounted securely in the rack, the doors are spaced from the spare tire and are prevented from rubbing each other and the spare tire. The doors are therefore protected from scratches and abrasions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2004
    Publication date: January 19, 2006
    Inventor: Robert Wills
  • Publication number: 20050181719
    Abstract: Poultry conveying apparatus is used in gas stunning apparatus for the gas stunning of poultry. The conveying apparatus comprises a conveyor for transporting poultry through a gas or gases in a chamber of the gas stunning apparatus. The gas or gases are effective to stun the poultry. As the poultry is conveyed through the chamber poultry restraining elements engage the poultry to prevent or inhibit movement of the birds relative to the conveyor. This restrains the birds as they react to the gas or gases in the chamber and can thus prevent or reduce damage to the birds, and can ensure that there is little or no movement of the birds relative to the conveyor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2004
    Publication date: August 18, 2005
    Inventors: Ian Taylor, Christopher Tyrrell, Barry Landymore, Robert Wills
  • Patent number: 5213157
    Abstract: A clamping device is provided for capping a pipe carrying fluids therein, such as oil, water, chemicals, radio active material and the like, and also an apparatus for mounting the clamping device on the pipe. The clamping device includes clamping brackets for securement on the pipe, a capping member for insertion into the open end of the pipe, and securement members for securing the capping member to the clamping brackets. The apparatus includes closable jaws for securement to the clamping brackets, and arms including a carrier member for holding and positioning the capping member. The apparatus can be moved, controlled and manipulated at a safe distance from the pipe, and includes a rod mechanism for rotating and closing the jaws to engage the clamping brackets around the pipe, and a further rod mechanism for raising, lowering and rotating the arms to properly position the capping member within the open end of the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Inventor: Robert Wills
  • Patent number: 4915038
    Abstract: The improved incinerator is a concentric elongated tubular array, with an outer closed tubular housing or shell, an annular tubular heat exchanger in the form of a bundle of spaced open ended tubes inside the housing and spaced inwardly therefrom to define an annular air passageway therebetween and front and rear spaces, and a tubular combustion chamber having an open front end and an open rear end. The front end thereof is necked down and in the form of a small diameter tubular inlet immediately downstream of the combustion zone in the combustion chamber. A fuel line, a fluidized waste material line and an ignition system pass through the inlet into the combustion zone, along with heated air to initiate and maintain the desired complete combustion of the waste material. The air is preheated by blowing it into the passageway and around and over the heat exchange tubes, before passing it into the combustion zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Assignee: The Marquardt Company
    Inventors: Mark L. Sujata, Raymond E. Wieveg, Robert Wills