Patents by Inventor Ronald L. Thomas

Ronald L. Thomas 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: 6313273
    Abstract: A high quality soy protein concentrate (SPC) was produced by a process of enzyme treatment combined with ultrafiltration. Soy flour, the starting material, was enzymatically treated with commercial pectinases and diafiltered with a porous stainless steel ultrafiltration system. The resulting product had reduced levels of physic acid and nucleic acids due to contaminant phytase and nuclease activity in the pectinase enzymes. The functionality of the SPC was improved due to increased solubility compared to conventional soy isolates produced by acid precipitation. High performance liquid chromatography gel filtration profiles indicated that the proteins in the SPC remained intact. The SPC also had reduced flavor when compared to the original soy flour according to gas chromatography flavor profiles and sensory evaluation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventors: Ronald L. Thomas, Louis I. Ndife, Hilary Shallo, Lynn P. Nelles
  • Patent number: 6186913
    Abstract: A hollow shaft hunting arrow carries a small volume of liquified carbon dioxide which is released by flash expansion upon penetration into the thorax of a game animal. The thorax is pressurized with carbon dioxide gas at sub-zero temperature to cause collapse of the lungs and fibrillation of the heart, so that the animal can be harvested on the spot, thus avoiding escape and uncertain recovery. The liquified carbon dioxide is carried in an internal reservoir and is released by flash expansion upon opening actuation of a valve closure member. The arrowhead includes a freely movable center core which is attached to an actuator shaft that is engagable with a release valve. The release valve is actuated by either piercing a metallic membrane, fracturing a glass or ceramic lens or unseating the ball closure of a ball valve assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Inventor: Ronald L. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5837312
    Abstract: A method for debittering and reducing the allergenic reactivity of protein hydrolysates is disclosed, which method includes the providing of an aqueous solution of a protein hydrolysate, feeding the solution into a bed of siloxane, and collecting a first portion of the solution exiting from the bed. The first portion contains either a non-bitter or bitter fraction. A second portion of the solution exiting from the bed can be collected which contains the opposite tasting fraction of the hydrolysate. Preferably the siloxane is selected from the group comprising octa-siloxane and octadecyl-siloxane. Preferably the hydrolysate has a molecular weight of less than 10,000, and is derived from the group of hydrolysates comprising casein, whey and soy. Additionally, the bed preferably is of a depth of between 2 to 4 times the bed diameter. A more hypoallergenic protein hydrolysate product produced in accordance with the method of the invention is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventors: Christopher T. Cordle, Shih-Bin Lin, Lynn P. Nelles, Ronald L. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5830738
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for extracting pigments, namely carotenoids, from plant material. The process includes the step of combining shredded plant material with an enzyme. The enzyme breaks down the plants cellular walls releasing the carotenoids contained within the plant cells. The enzyme added to the plant material can be pectinase, cellulase, hemicellulase, or mixtures thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Clemson University
    Inventors: Ronald L. Thomas, Kathryn Diane Deibler, Charles Rice Barmore
  • Patent number: 5709796
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for reducing the volume and mass of solid waste (A) by initially subjecting the solid waste to a digestive enzymatic solution (20) agitated by fluid jets (28) under conditions which convert substrate (12) into a liquid waste which is discharged through a conventional sewage system (30). Non-biodegradable plastic shells (10) may be collected in a strainer basket (24) to be removed for further solid waste treatment such as shredding and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Bio-Sep, Inc.
    Inventors: Clark R. Fuqua, Ronald L. Thomas, Charles H. Gooding
  • Patent number: 5326477
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for reducing the volume and mass of solid waste (A) by initially subjecting the solid waste to a digestive enzymatic solution (20) agitated by fluid jets (28) under conditions which convert substrate (12) into a liquid waste which is discharged through a conventional sewage system (30). Non-biodegradable plastic shells (10) may be collected in a strainer basket (24) to be removed for further solid waste treatment such as shredding and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: Bio-Sep, Inc.
    Inventors: Clark R. Fugua, Ronald L. Thomas, Charles H. Gooding
  • Patent number: 5285333
    Abstract: A plurality of modules are removeably mounted in a rack. At least one of the modules is a drive module including a tape drive and at least one of the modules is a storage module including a carrousel for removeably receiving a plurality of magnetic tape cartridges. The storage module includes mechanisms for rotating the carrousel to present a selected cartridge to a withdrawal and replacement position. The drive and storage modules have track segments which are aligned in end-to-relation. A robot carries the selected cartridge between the carrousel and the tape drive. The robot includes a carriage mounted for traveling along the track segments and a gripper for gripping and releasing the selected cartridge. The system further comprises a control and sequencing circuit for rotating the carrousel, moving the carriage and operating the gripper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Assignee: Archive Corporation
    Inventors: Valerie H. Barr, Jeffrey S. McGee, Ronald L. Thomas
  • Patent number: 5130237
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for chemically converting a substrate into its reaction products and immediately thereafter physically separating the reaction products in a continuous operation. The process is carried out with a bioreactor having an ultrafiltration membrane containing an immobilized chemical agent which is preferably an enzyme. The bioreactor is prepared by securing an ultrafiltration membrane to an inside wall of a porous tubular support and chemically bonding an enzyme to an inner surface of the membrane. The enzyme is preferably bonded to the membrane by chelation and the membrane may be a polymeric membrane or a metal oxide membrane. To convert a substrate, a substrate-containing feed stream is preferably flowed tangentially along the inner surface of the membrane containing the immobilized enzyme. Sufficiently small reaction products filter through pores of the membrane and larger reaction products are retained by the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1992
    Assignee: Clemson University
    Inventors: Ronald L. Thomas, Daniel L. McKamy
  • Patent number: 4897465
    Abstract: Disclosed are ultrafiltration processes for the enrichment and concentration of selected proteins from protein conaining fluids. Illustratively, IgG is concentrated from whey by means of multiple ultrafiltration "passes", using a metallic oxide ultrafiltration membrane, which are characterized by differing pH's.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1990
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventors: Christopher T. Cordle, Larry G. Criswell, Ronald L. Thomas
  • Patent number: 4716044
    Abstract: An improved process for obtaining juice from fruit. The fruit is processed to provide a pumpable fluid puree of fruit and juice which is pumped at pressures in a range of from about 100 to about 1000 pounds per square inch in a single pass through a rigid porous tubular housing having a diameter of from about 5/8 inch to about six inches and having a food grade ultrafiltration membrane deposited on inside surfaces of same. Initial permeability (P) of the membrane to water is from about 1 to about 15 according to the formula ##EQU1## where permeate flux is gallons of water passing through a square foot of membrane area per day and pressure is measured in pounds per square inch. Exit pressure from the housing is maintained in a range of from about 50 to about 100 pounds per square inch. Clear, commercially sterile juice with the taste and aroma of fresh fruit can be obtained at juice yields of at least about 78%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1987
    Assignee: Clemson University
    Inventors: Ronald L. Thomas, Terry C. Titus, Craig A. Brandon