Patents by Inventor Ronald A. Eckl

Ronald A. Eckl 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).

  • DIGESTER APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20150176203
    Abstract: A digester apparatus is provided for delignifying wood chips to form wood pulp comprising: a vessel, a first downcomer, an outer fluid supply downcomer and structure defining an insulating region between the first and outer downcomers. The first downcomer extends into the vessel for delivering a first fluid into the vessel. The first fluid is generally at a first temperature when passing into the first downcomer. The outer fluid supply downcomer extends into the vessel and may be located about the first downcomer for supplying a second fluid into the vessel. The second fluid may be generally at a second temperature different from the first temperature when passing into the outer downcomer. The structure defining an insulating region between the first and outer downcomers functions to reduce heat transfer between the first and outer downcomers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: RONALD A. ECKL, ALYCE S. ALT, KENTON WITHERSPOON, JESSE T. MC CLUNG
  • Digester apparatus
    Patent number: 8986504
    Abstract: A digester apparatus is provided for delignifying wood chips to form wood pulp comprising: a vessel, a first downcomer, an outer fluid supply downcomer and structure defining an insulating region between the first and outer downcomers. The first downcomer extends into the vessel for delivering a first fluid into the vessel. The first fluid is generally at a first temperature when passing into the first downcomer. The outer fluid supply downcomer extends into the vessel and may be located about the first downcomer for supplying a second fluid into the vessel. The second fluid may be generally at a second temperature different from the first temperature when passing into the outer downcomer. The structure defining an insulating region between the first and outer downcomers functions to reduce heat transfer between the first and outer downcomers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: International Paper Company
    Inventors: Ronald A. Eckl, Alyce S. Alt, Kenton Witherspoon, Jesse T. McClung