Patents by Inventor Rudolph C. Valenta

Rudolph C. Valenta 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: 5196473
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to substantially dust-free granules. The granules are constituted by a normally dusty inorganic solid material and a water-dispersible nonionic vinyl polymer distributed thereon. The vinyl polymer promotes retention of dust size particles to the granules of the inorganic solid material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: Oil-Dri Corporation of America
    Inventors: Rudolph C. Valenta, Leslie C. Giron
  • Patent number: 5094604
    Abstract: An apparatus suitable for making a granular absorbent from cellulosic fibrous material includes a housing which defines an elongated internal cavity, and an inlet and an outlet communicating with the internal cavity. A rotatably driven shaft extends within the cavity of the housing, with the apparatus including an impeller arrangement mounted on the shaft for rotation therewith. The impeller arrangement includes resiliently flexible bristles which cooperate with the interior surface of the internal cavity for effecting agitation, blending, and agglomeration of the cellulosic fibrous feed stock. A pellet-like granular absorbent is produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1992
    Assignee: Oil-Dri Corporation of America
    Inventors: Domingo Chavez, Loukia Papadopoulos, Jennifer A. Stein, Rudolph C. Valenta
  • Patent number: 4775473
    Abstract: An absorbent article suitable for absorption of aqueous as well as oleaginous liquids such as metal cutting fluids, hydraulic fluids, oils and the like is disclosed. The absorbent article is a spunlaced material sleeve closed at both ends and filled with an inherently flameproof particulate material, such as particulate clay material, having a certain particle size range. The spunlaced material is liquid permeable, oleophilic, and hydrophilic. The spunlaced material also has a liquid wicking rate that is at least equal to that of the particulate clay material contained within the sleeve. Preferred spunlaced materials are woodpulp/polyester spunlaced materials having a woodpulp-rich face and a polyester-rich face. The polyester-rich face is situated contiguous to the particulate absorbent material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1988
    Assignee: Oil-Dri Corporation of America
    Inventors: Mark S. Johnson, Manojlo Jovanovic, Rudolph C. Valenta
  • Patent number: 4264543
    Abstract: Synthetic absorbent granules of calcium sulfate dihydrate are manufactured by a process which utilizes a commercial type of dry powdered gypsum plaster or calcium sulfate hemihydrate, mixes the plaster with water in an inclined rotating disc machine to cause hydration to occur, and wherein the plaster is formed and grown into balls or granules of a generally predetermined size and discharged from the disc when reaching such size. The ball forming operation is started in the disc with seed material in the form of balls of a size corresponding generally to the balls to be manufactured by the process. Water spray is applied to the seed material in the rotating disc and a uniform pattern of movement of such material with a well defined eye is developed. When this occurs, generally the water is turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1981
    Assignee: Oil-Dri Corporation of America
    Inventor: Rudolph C. Valenta
  • Patent number: 4187803
    Abstract: A process for pelletizing sorptive mineral "fines" which includes adding sufficient moisture to the particles of sorptive material to occupy the pore space therein, compactly forming the moistened mineral in a pelletizing machine, then removing the pore moisture in a suitable dryer or kiln so that final pellets retain relatively the same absorbent capacity and bulk density as the original material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1980
    Assignee: Oil-Dri Corporation of America
    Inventor: Rudolph C. Valenta
  • Patent number: 4036928
    Abstract: A process for pelletizing sorptive mineral "fines" which includes adding sufficient moisture to the particles of sorptive material to occupy the pore space therein, compactly forming the moistened mineral in a pelletizing machine, then removing the pore moisture in a suitable dryer or kiln so that final pellets retain relatively the same absorbent capacity and bulk density as the original material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1977
    Assignee: Oil-Dri Corporation of America
    Inventor: Rudolph C. Valenta