Patents by Inventor Stephen John Brown

Stephen John Brown 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: 20200238250
    Abstract: The various embodiments of the present invention relate to a polymerization reactor where the agitator mixing performance is optimized for use with a high activity catalyst and methods for developing the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Applicant: NOVA Chemicals (International) S.A.
    Inventors: Yves Lacombe, Eric Clavelle, Stephen Salomons, Andrew Hawryluk, Stephen John Brown, Marion Walls
  • Patent number: 10675605
    Abstract: The various embodiments of the present invention relate to a polymerization reactor where the agitator mixing performance is optimized for use with a high activity catalyst and methods for developing the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: NOVA Chemicals (International) S.A.
    Inventors: Yves Lacombe, Eric Clavelle, Stephen Salomons, Andrew Hawryluk, Stephen John Brown, Marion Walls
  • Patent number: 10160696
    Abstract: The oligomerization of ethylene using a chromium catalyst having a heteroatomic ligand may be used to provide oligomerization products that are selective towards hexene and/or octene. However, such processes also typically produce some polymer as an undesirable by product. The present invention is directed towards improvements in the selective oligomerization of ethylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: NOVA Chemicals (International) S.A.
    Inventors: Isam Jaber, Ian Ronald Jobe, P Scott Chisholm, Andrzej Krzywicki, Charles Ashton Garret Carter, Vernon Lindsay Strom, Kamal Elias Serhal, Eric Clavelle, Stephen John Brown, Yves Lacombe, Anita Sylvia Magis, Mackenzie Alexander Harris, Russell Kirk Archer, Keith WAyne Besenski, Michel Berghmans, Oleksiy Golovchenko, Dale Alexander Sieben
  • Patent number: 10093780
    Abstract: Shrink film having a desirable balance of properties is manufactured from a polyethylene blend composition having a fractional melt index and a molecular weight distribution of from about 2.5 to about 7. The blend composition comprises a first blend component that is made with a single site catalyst and has a molecular weight of greater than about 140,000 and a first density, d1. The blend composition also contains a second blend component having a lower molecular weight and a second density, d2, that is greater than the density of d1 in an amount of from about 0.018 to about 0.032 g/cc. The films of this disclosure may be used, for example, as an overwrap or pallet wrap to protect goods during shipping and in food packaging applications (such as shrink wrap for frozen poultry).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: NOVA Chemicals (International) S.A.
    Inventors: XiaoChuan Wang, Peter Zoricak, Norman Dorien Joseph Aubee, Stephen John Brown
  • Patent number: 10023729
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to films comprising at least one layer of an ethylene interpolymer product. The ethylene interpolymer product comprises a first ethylene interpolymer, a second ethylene interpolymer and optionally a third ethylene interpolymer; wherein the ethylene interpolymer product has ?0.03 terminal vinyl unsaturations per 100 carbon atoms and ?3 parts per million (ppm) of a total catalytic metal; and optionally a Dilution Index, Yd, greater than 0. The disclosed ethylene interpolymer products have a melt index from about 0.4 to about 10 dg/minute, a density from about 0.900 to about 0.940 g/cm3, a polydispersity (Mw/Mn) from about 2 to about 12 and a CDBI50 from about 20% to about 98%. Further, the ethylene interpolymer products are a blend of at least two ethylene interpolymers; where one ethylene interpolymer is produced with a single-site catalyst formulation and at least one ethylene interpolymer is produced with a heterogeneous catalyst formulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: NOVA Chemicals (International) S.A.
    Inventors: Marcelo Yamane, Tieqi Li, Xiaochuan Wang, Christopher Dobbin, Fazle Sibtain, Kenneth Edward Taylor, Hamidreza Khakdaman, Stephen John Brown
  • Publication number: 20170361301
    Abstract: The various embodiments of the present invention relate to a polymerization reactor where the agitator mixing performance is optimized for use with a high activity catalyst and methods for developing the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Applicant: NOVA Chemicals (International) S.A.
    Inventors: Yves Lacombe, Eric Clavelle, Stephen Salomons, Andrew Hawriuk, Stephen John Brown, Marion Walls
  • Patent number: 9688588
    Abstract: A continuous flow process for the oligomerization of ethylene using a chromium catalyst having a phosphorus-nitrogen-phosphorus (“P—N—P”) ligand provides high selectivity to the desired tetramer (1-octene) with reduced production of coproduct C10+ oligomers. Prior art processes that maximize catalyst activity have provided comparatively poor product selectivity. In particular, the production of larger amounts of C10+ oligomers have been observed under conditions that maximize activity. The present process resolves this problem through the use of a combination of low catalyst concentration and by limiting the octene concentration in the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: NOVA Chemicals (International) S.A.
    Inventors: Peter Zoricak, Stephen John Brown, P Scott Chisholm
  • Publication number: 20160237000
    Abstract: The oligomerization of ethylene using a chromium catalyst having a heteroatomic ligand may be used to provide oligomerization products that are selective towards hexene and/or octene. However, such processes also typically produce some polymer as an undesirable by product. The present invention is directed towards improvements in the selective oligomerization of ethylene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Applicant: NOVA Chemicals (International) S.A.
    Inventors: Isam Jaber, Ian Ronald Jobe, P. Scott Chisholm, Andrzej Krzywicki, Charles Ashton Garret Carter, Vernon Lindsay Strom, Kamal Elias Serhal, Eric Clavelle, Stephen John Brown, Yves Lacombe, Anita Sylvia Magis, Mackenzie Alexander Harris, Russell Kirk Archer, Keith Wayne Besenski, Michel Berghmans, Oleksiy Golovchenko, Dale Alexander Sieben
  • Publication number: 20160229996
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to films comprising at least one layer of an ethylene interpolymer product. The ethylene interpolymer product comprises a first ethylene interpolymer, a second ethylene interpolymer and optionally a third ethylene interpolymer; wherein the ethylene interpolymer product has ?0.03 terminal vinyl unsaturations per 100 carbon atoms and ?3 parts per million (ppm) of a total catalytic metal; and optionally a Dilution Index, Yd, greater than 0. The disclosed ethylene interpolymer products have a melt index from about 0.4 to about 10 dg/minute, a density from about 0.900 to about 0.940 g/cm3, a polydispersity (Mw/Mn) from about 2 to about 12 and a CDBI50 from about 20% to about 98%. Further, the ethylene interpolymer products are a blend of at least two ethylene interpolymers; where one ethylene interpolymer is produced with a single-site catalyst formulation and at least one ethylene interpolymer is produced with a heterogeneous catalyst formulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Publication date: August 11, 2016
    Applicant: NOVA Chemicals (International) S.A.
    Inventors: Marcelo Yamane, Tieqi Li, Xiaochuan Wang, Christopher Dobbin, Fazle Sibtain, Kenneth Edward Taylor, Hamidreza Khakdaman, Stephen John Brown
  • Publication number: 20160083539
    Abstract: Shrink film having a desirable balance of properties is manufactured from a polyethylene blend composition having a fractional melt index and a molecular weight distribution of from about 2.5 to about 7. The blend composition comprises a first blend component that is made with a single site catalyst and has a molecular weight of greater than about 140,000 and a first density, d1. The blend composition also contains a second blend component having a lower molecular weight and a second density, d2, that is greater than the density of d1 in an amount of from about 0.018 to about 0.032 g/cc. The films of this disclosure may be used, for example, as an overwrap or pallet wrap to protect goods during shipping and in food packaging applications (such as shrink wrap for frozen poultry).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Publication date: March 24, 2016
    Applicant: NOVA Chemicals (International) S.A.
    Inventors: XiaoChuan Wang, Peter Zoricak, Norman Dorien Joseph Aubee, Stephen John Brown
  • Publication number: 20150284303
    Abstract: A continuous flow process for the oligomerization of ethylene using a chromium catalyst having a phosphorus-nitrogen-phosphorus (“P—N—P”) ligand provides high selectivity to the desired tetramer (1-octene) with reduced production of coproduct C10+ oligomers. Prior art processes that maximize catalyst activity have provided comparatively poor product selectivity. In particular, the production of larger amounts of C10+ oligomers have been observed under conditions that maximize activity. The present process resolves this problem through the use of a combination of low catalyst concentration and by limiting the octene concentration in the reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Applicant: NOVA Chemicals (International) S.A.
    Inventors: Peter Zoricak, Stephen John Brown, P. Scott Chisholm
  • Publication number: 20140142360
    Abstract: This invention enables the “bulk” oligomerization of ethylene (i.e. the oligomerization of ethylene in the presence of the oligomer product) using a catalyst system comprising 1) a very low concentration of a chromium catalyst and 2) a three part activator. The chromium catalyst contains a diphosphine ligand, preferably a so called P—N—P ligand. The activator includes an aluminoxane, trimethyl aluminum, and triethyl aluminum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: NOVA CHEMICALS (INTERNATIONAL) S.A.
    Inventors: Stephen John Brown, Charles Ashton Garret Carter, P. Scott Chisholm, Peter Zoricak, Oleksiy Golovchenko
  • Patent number: 8431657
    Abstract: Catalysts are activated in a dual reactor solution process by adding substoichiometric and superstoichiometric amounts of an ionic activator to an organometallic polymerization catalyst in a first and second reactor respectively. The new activation method allows one to alter process conditions in a favorably way with minimum impact to process economics. The new activation method also provides polymers which give films having improved optical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Nova Chemicals (International) S.A.
    Inventors: XiaoChuan Wang, Peter Zoricak, Stephen John Brown
  • Publication number: 20120271087
    Abstract: The oligomerization of ethylene using a chromium catalyst and an aluminoxane activator is well known. The undesired formation of polyethylene as a by-product is also known to occur during prior oligomerization processes. We have discovered that the use of an aluminoxane that is prepared by non-hydrolytic means provides a highly productive activator (co-catalyst) for ethylene oligomerization and mitigates the undesired formation of by-product polyethylene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: NOVA CHEMICALS (INTERNATIONAL) S.A.
    Inventors: Stephen John Brown, Charles Ashton Garret Carter, P. Scott Chisholm, Isam Jaber, Ian Ronald Jobe, Oleksiy Golovchenko
  • Publication number: 20120149856
    Abstract: Catalysts are activated in a dual reactor solution process by adding substoichiometric and superstoichiometric amounts of an ionic activator to an organometallic polymerization catalyst in a first and second reactor respectively. The new activation method allows one to alter process conditions in a favorably way with minimum impact to process economics. The new activation method also provides polymers which give films having improved optical properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventors: XiaoChuan Wang, Peter Zoricak, Stephen John Brown
  • Publication number: 20120142989
    Abstract: The oligomerization of ethylene using a chromium catalyst having a heteroatomic ligand may be used to provide oligomerization products that are selective towards hexene and/or octene. However, such processes also typically produce some polymer as an undesirable by product. The present invention is directed towards improvements in the selective oligomerization of ethylene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Isam Jaber, Ian Ronald Jobe, P. Scott Chisholm, Andrzej Krzywicki, Charles Ashton Garret Carter, Vernon Lindsay Strom, Kamal l Elias Serhal, Eric Clavelle, Stephen John Brown, Yves Lacombe, Anita Sylvia Magis, Mackenzie Alexander Harris, Russell Kirk Archer, Keith Wayne Besenski, Michel Berghmans, Oleksiy Golovchenko, Dale Alexander Sieben
  • Publication number: 20120101321
    Abstract: The oligomerization of ethylene using a chromium catalyst having a bridged diphosphine ligand can produce a selective product distribution (to predominantly hexene or predominantly octene/hexene) when activated with an aluminoxane. The oligomerization reaction also produces polymer by product—particularly when the aluminoxane is provided in a non-aromatic solvent. The present invention mitigates this problem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Inventors: Stephen John Brown, Charles Ashton Garret Carter, P. Scott Chisholm, Isam Jaber
  • Patent number: 8101693
    Abstract: This invention relates to the polymerization of ethylene polymers using a continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR) that is connected in series to a tubular reactor. The tubular reactor receives a polymer solution from the CSTR. Further polymerization in the tubular reactor improves production efficiencies, particularly with respect to lowering the amount of energy required to recover the polymer and residual comonomer from the solution. The use of tempered i.e. (heated) ethylene in the tubular reactor has been discovered to mitigate gel problems and lower/reduce levels of hexane extractables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: NOVA Chemicals (International) S.A.
    Inventors: Lauwrence Martin Jozef Van Asseldonk, Stephen John Brown
  • Publication number: 20110144289
    Abstract: This invention relates to the polymerization of ethylene polymers using a continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR) that is connected in series to a tubular reactor. The tubular reactor receives a polymer solution from the CSTR. Further polymerization in the tubular reactor improves production efficiencies, particularly with respect to lowering the amount of energy required to recover the polymer and residual comonomer from the solution. The use of tempered i.e. (heated) ethylene in the tubular reactor has been discovered to mitigate gel problems and lower/reduce levels of hexane extractables.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Lauwrence Martin Jozef Van Asseldonk, Stephen John Brown
  • Publication number: 20100229426
    Abstract: A pair of shoes is provided that includes a left and a right shoe. The left shoe includes an upper having a left forefoot portion, the left forefoot portion having a lateral side with a portion thereof made of a first material and a medial side with a portion thereof made of a second material. The right shoe includes an upper having a right forefoot, the right forefoot having a medial side with a portion thereof made of the first material and a lateral side with a portion thereof made of the second material, wherein one of the first material and the second material provides more support than the other. The more supportive first material can include a polyurethane, such as TPU, a non-stretch synthetic material, or ceraprene. The second, less supportable material can be a light weight breathable mesh.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: NEW BALANCE ATHLETIC SHOE, INC.
    Inventor: Stephen John Brown