Patents by Inventor Rodney H. Banks

Rodney H. Banks 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).

  • Publication number: 20090056897
    Abstract: A method for monitoring the deposition of one or more organic materials dispersed in an aqueous medium in a papermaking process comprising: measuring the rate of deposition of the organic materials from the aqueous medium on-to a quartz crystal microbalance having a top side contacting with the aqueous medium coated with a layer containing a non-swelling epoxy resin or a silicon containing polymer, and a second, bottom side isolated from the aqueous medium is disclosed. Additionally, a method for measuring the effectiveness of an inhibitor that decreases the deposition of the organic materials in a papermaking process is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Sergey M. Shevchenko, Michael J. Murcia, Rodney H. Banks
  • Patent number: 7479490
    Abstract: A system of equipment allowing addition of solid materials to a pressurized pipeline wherein said solid material is conveyed in such a way as to be readily dissolved by the liquid in said pipeline. The system includes a solid material transfer device that is used to transfer solid material to the point of intake in a pressurized pipeline, without allowing liquid from the process pipeline to access the solid material in the solid material feeder. The system of equipment has been found to be particularly useful in feeding pellets containing resazurin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Nalco Company
    Inventors: Robert R. Adams, Rodney H. Banks, Mita Chattoraj, Joe L. Schwartz
  • Publication number: 20080305244
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a coating applied to a metal surface is disclosed. Specifically, the method comprises the following: applying a sol composition to a metal surface, wherein said composition contains one or more alkoxysilyl group containing compounds, a fluorophore, and a solvent; forming a gelled coating on said surface from said composition; measuring the fluorescence of said coating with a fluorometer, wherein said fluorometer is capable of measuring reflective fluorescence emission measurements; correlating the fluorescence of said coating with the thickness or weight of said coating, and/or with the concentration of alkoxysilyl group containing compound in the coating composition; and optionally applying an additional coating to said metal surface when the thickness of the coating is less than a desired amount or adjusting the concentration of the alkoxysilyl group containing compound applied to said surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Inventors: Ji Cui, Rodney H. Banks
  • Publication number: 20080179028
    Abstract: The present invention provides an automatic control system, method and paper manufacturing machine using such control system for automatically controlling the amount of press section dewatering via the metered application of chemical dewatering agents applied to a paper web in a paper manufacturing process. The control system includes a feedback controller for controlling the amount of chemical dewatering agent applied to a paper web, and a monitoring device for obtaining a measurement of the moisture of the paper web exiting the press section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventors: David Ira Weinstein, Michael Robert St. John, Rodney H. Banks, James L. Thomas
  • Patent number: 7154603
    Abstract: Described and claimed is an interchangeable tip-open cell fluorometer comprising a housing and a fluorometric probe tip interchangeably connected to the housing, the probe tip including a probe tip housing defining an open cell and enclosing a probe optical arrangement, the probe optical arrangement including an excitation source and a fluorescence detector wherein the excitation source is aimed directly into the fluorescence detector such that a sample can be fluorometrically detected. Also claimed is a method of using this interchangeable tip-open cell fluorometer for detecting fluorescent signals emitted by one or more fluorophores from samples from a natural or industrial water system. The fluorometer, when coupled with a controller, is capable of monitoring and optionally controlling an industrial process or system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Nalco Company
    Inventor: Rodney H. Banks
  • Patent number: 7095500
    Abstract: Described and claimed is an interchangeable tip-open cell fluorometer comprising a housing and a fluorometric probe tip interchangeably connected to the housing, the probe tip including a probe tip housing defining an open cell and enclosing a probe optical arrangement, the probe optical arrangement including an excitation source and a fluorescence detector wherein the excitation source is aimed directly into the fluorescence detector such that a sample can be fluorometrically detected. Also claimed is a method of using this interchangeable tip-open cell fluorometer for detecting fluorescent signals emitted by one or more fluorophores from samples from a natural or industrial water system. The fluorometer, when coupled with a controller, is capable of monitoring and optionally controlling an industrial process or system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Nalco Company
    Inventor: Rodney H. Banks
  • Patent number: 6901945
    Abstract: A system of equipment allowing addition of solid materials to a pressurized pipeline wherein said solid material is conveyed in such a way as to be readily dissolved by the liquid in said pipeline. The system includes a solid material transfer device that is used to transfer solid material to the point of intake in a pressurized pipeline, without allowing liquid from the process pipeline to access the solid material in the solid material feeder. The system of equipment has been found to be particularly useful in feeding pellets containing resazurin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Nalco Company
    Inventors: Robert R. Adams, Rodney H. Banks, Mita Chattoraj, Joe L. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 6670617
    Abstract: Described and claimed is a Mirror Fluorometer comprising a rotatable mirror positioned such that it is capable of projecting a converging cone of excitation light onto one or more of the samples wherein the fluorescent signals emitted from fluorophores in the samples is detected. Also claimed is a method of using this Mirror Fluorometer for detecting fluorescent signals emitted by one or more fluorophores from samples from a natural or industrial water system. The fluorometer, when coupled with a controller is capable of monitoring and optionally controlling an industrial process or system, including a paper mill process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Ondeo Nalco Company
    Inventor: Rodney H. Banks
  • Patent number: 6556027
    Abstract: Devices, methods and systems are provided for monitoring of industrial processes. Devices and systems are provided which include a controller module connected to a probe module having a specified metallurgy and a resistor module having a specified resistance value which is capable of identifying the metallurgy of the probe module to the controller module. A resistor device including a resistor having a resistance value which identifies a type of metallurgical material is also provided. The devices and systems provided are inexpensive, portable, easy to set-up and operate by unskilled personnel, may be connected to both desktop and portable computerized devices and can provide real-time monitoring of industrial processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Ondeo Nalco Company
    Inventor: Rodney H. Banks
  • Publication number: 20030006385
    Abstract: Described and claimed is a Mirror Fluorometer comprising a rotatable mirror positioned such that it is capable of projecting a converging cone of excitation light onto one or more of the samples wherein the fluorescent signals emitted from fluorophores in the samples is detected. Also claimed is a method of using this Mirror Fluorometer for detecting fluorescent signals emitted by one or more fluorophores from samples from a natural or industrial water system. The fluorometer, when coupled with a controller is capable of monitoring and optionally controlling an industrial process or system, including a paper mill process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventor: Rodney H. Banks
  • Patent number: 6475394
    Abstract: A system and method are provided which enables the monitoring and if desired controlling of fouling within a fluid system. The present invention includes a pseudo-fouling detector system with a pair of identical sensors, where said sensors measure a variable, such as, temperature or pH, in a fluid, producing an electric output representative of the variable. The variable measurements are used to calculate a fouling index which is further used to develop fouling treatment strategies for controlling the amount of fouling in the fluid system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Ondeo Nalco Company
    Inventors: Kun Xiong, Gary L. Horacek, Robert L. Wetegrove, Rodney H. Banks
  • Patent number: 6440689
    Abstract: A method for monitoring the microbiological contamination of opaque media is described and claimed. In this method, a Fluorogenic Dye is added to an Aliquot of opaque medium. After a certain time period, a fluorometer capable of measuring fluorescent signals in an opaque medium is used to measure the fluorogenic signals of the Fluorogenic Dye and the Reacted Fluorogenic Dye. A Useful RATIO of the fluorescent signal of the Reacted Fluorogenic Dye to the fluorescent signal of the Fluorogenic Dye is calculated and the information gleaned from the RATIO is used to ascertain the state of microbiological contamination in the opaque medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Ondeo Nalco Company
    Inventors: Rodney H. Banks, Nancy L. Casselman, Mita Chattoraj, Ronald V. Davis, Michael J. Fehr, Sasireka S. Ramesh, David P. Workman
  • Publication number: 20020108911
    Abstract: A system and method are provided which enables the monitoring and if desired controlling of fouling within a fluid system. The present invention includes a pseudo-fouling detector system with a pair of identical sensors, where said sensors measure a variable, such as, temperature or pH, in a fluid, producing an electric output representative of the variable. The variable measurements are used to calculate a fouling index which is further used to develop fouling treatment strategies for controlling the amount of fouling in the fluid system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventors: Kun Xiong, Gary L. Horacek, Robert L. Wetegrove, Rodney H. Banks
  • Publication number: 20020105346
    Abstract: Devices, methods and systems are provided for monitoring of industrial processes. Devices and systems are provided which include a controller module connected to a probe module having a specified metallurgy and a resistor module capable of determining a specified resistance value to identify the metallurgy of the probe module for the controller module. A resistor device comprising a resistor capable of determining a resistance value which identifies a type of metallurgical material is also provided. The devices and systems provided are inexpensive, portable, electrically safe, easy to set-up and operate by unskilled personnel, may be connected to both desktop and portable computerized devices and can provide real-time monitoring of industrial processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Inventor: Rodney H. Banks
  • Publication number: 20020042092
    Abstract: A method for monitoring the microbiological contamination of opaque media is described and claimed. In this method, a Fluorogenic Dye is added to an Aliquot of opaque medium. After a certain time period, a fluorometer capable of measuring fluorescent signals in an opaque medium is used to measure the fluorogenic signals of the Fluorogenic Dye and the Reacted Fluorogenic Dye. A Useful RATIO of the fluorescent signal of the Reacted Fluorogenic Dye to the fluorescent signal of the Fluorogenic Dye is calculated and the information gleaned from the RATIO is used to ascertain the state of microbiological contamination in the opaque medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Publication date: April 11, 2002
    Inventors: Rodney H. Banks, Nancy L. Casselman, Mita Chattoraj, Ronald V. Davis, Michael J. Fehr, Sasireka S. Ramesh, David P. Workman
  • Patent number: 6023070
    Abstract: A system and a method for monitoring fouling in a fluid stream are provided. A light source generates a light path directed to two distinct portions of a fluid stream, one of which includes a translucent conduit. The conduit experiences fouling on the walls thereof. The light directed towards the conduit is absorbed or scattered to a varying degree as a function of foulant thickness and composition and the wavelength of the light employed. A comparison of foulant contained in the fluid itself may be compared to the foulant in the conduit, and a signal representative thereof can be generated. As a result, dosage of agents added to the fluid stream to control the foulant in the system may be controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: Nalco Chemical Company
    Inventors: Robert L. Wetegrove, Rodney H. Banks
  • Patent number: 5919707
    Abstract: The concentration of the active ingredient in a rolling oil emulsion can be rapidly determined, and correction of the concentration of the active ingredient can be undertaken by measuring the measuring the amount of light reflected from the emulsion at the peak absorbing wavelength of the dye to obtain a first reflectance value and measuring the amount of light reflected from said emulsion at a wavelength other than the peak absorbing wavelength of the dye to obtain a second reflectance value for at least two different concentrations of the rolling oil in the rolling oil emulsion, establishing a calibration curve, and then monitoring the rolling oil emulsion in like manner. The results may be utilized to feed additional additive to the emulsion, or may be used to feed water into the emulsion system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Nalco Chemical Company
    Inventors: Rodney H. Banks, Charles C. Payne
  • Patent number: 5382331
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for electrochemical monitoring of oxidizing agents, such as nitrite, or reducing agents in a water system and for controlling concentration levels for protecting surfaces exposed to the water. The apparatus includes a probe for selective exposure to fresh water samples of the system. The probe is connected to an analyzer that operates the probe and measures agent concentration by a chronoamperometry technique. A controller selectively feeds an agent to the water system in accordance with a set point to maintain a desired concentration level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: Nalco Chemical Company
    Inventor: Rodney H. Banks
  • Patent number: 5264917
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for monitoring film formers in an opaque process stream by immersing a segment of a transparent eccentrically mounted rotatable disc in the fluid stream, allowing time to accumulate film formers, then rotating the disc to expose the previously immersed section to optical monitoring by which a sample transmittance may be compared to a reference transmittance; the disc may have a segment presenting a hydrophilic surface and another segment presenting a hydrophobic surface so that different kinds of film formers may be monitored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: Nalco Chemical Company
    Inventors: Robert L. Wetegrove, Rodney H. Banks
  • Patent number: 5236845
    Abstract: A method for determining the presence of ferrous ion in boiler waters is described. The method can be used to directly measure the rate of corrosion occurring in boiler waters, and can measure the corrosion rates in the presence of boiler water treatment chemicals. The method uses a complex formed between only ferrous ion and a chemical 3-(2-pyridyl)-5,6-diphenyl-1,2,4-triazine-p,p'-disulfonic acid monohydrate reagent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1993
    Assignee: Nalco Chemical Company
    Inventors: Claudia C. Pierce, Roger W. Fowee, Rodney H. Banks