Patents by Inventor Stephen William Briggs

Stephen William Briggs 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: 10773212
    Abstract: A method of recovering one or more insoluble oils from a liquid source using one or more membrane or membrane contactors, comprising the steps of: pumping the liquid source comprising the one or more oils to the membranes or membrane contactors, contacting the liquid source with a first surface of the membrane or membrane contactors, coalescing the one or more oils within the liquid source onto the first surface of the membrane contactors, pumping one or more recovery fluids through the membrane or membrane contactors in contact with the second surface of the membrane or membrane contactors, and removing a first stream of oil coalesced from the second surface of the membranes or membrane contactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Frank Seibert, Stacy S. Truscott, Stephen William Briggs, Peter B. Kipp
  • Patent number: 10376842
    Abstract: The present invention includes a method and system for separating oil from water and particulate contaminants from a oil/water/solid mixture, comprising: a solid removal system for removing small, medium and large solids from a oil/water/solid mixture to form a oil and water stream and a membrane contactor system for separating the oil from the water in the oil and water stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Frank Seibert, Stacy S. Truscott, Stephen William Briggs
  • Patent number: 9782726
    Abstract: A method of recovering one or more insoluble oils from a liquid source using one or more membrane or membrane contactors, comprising the steps of: pumping the liquid source comprising the one or more oils to the membranes or membrane contactors, contacting the liquid source with a first surface of the membrane or membrane contactors, coalescing the one or more oils within the liquid source onto the first surface of the membrane contactors, pumping one or more recovery fluids through the membrane or membrane contactors in contact with the second surface of the membrane or membrane contactors, and removing a first stream of oil coalesced from the second surface of the membranes or membrane contactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Frank Seibert, Stacy S. Truscott, Stephen William Briggs, Peter B. Kipp
  • Patent number: 9688921
    Abstract: The present invention includes methods and systems for improving oil quality of a contaminated oil mixture by removing contaminants from a contaminated oil comprising the steps of: pretreating a membrane contactor system having a first and a second surface with an hydrophobic liquid, wherein the hydrophobic liquid is contacted to at least one of the first and second surfaces; obtaining a contaminated oil that comprises oil and lipophobic contaminants; contacting the contaminated oil onto a first surface of one or more membrane contactors to coalesce the oil on the first surface; and collecting the coalesced oil from the contaminated oil on the second surface of the membrane contactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Frank Seibert, Stephen William Briggs, Stacy S. Truscott, Peter B. Kipp
  • Patent number: 9643127
    Abstract: The present invention includes an apparatus and method for removing oil from a oil-containing liquid comprising oil and gas comprising: a source of oil-containing liquid; and a membrane contactor system in fluid communication with the source of oil-containing liquid, the membrane contactor system comprising one or more membrane contactors having a first and a second surface, wherein the first surface coalesces oil and removes gas from the oil-containing liquid, and the oil and gas are collected on the second surface from the oil-containing liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Board of Regents of The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Frank Seibert, Stephen William Briggs, Stacy S. Truscott, Peter B. Kipp
  • Publication number: 20160008762
    Abstract: A method of recovering one or more insoluble oils from a liquid source using one or more membrane or membrane contactors, comprising the steps of: pumping the liquid source comprising the one or more oils to the membranes or membrane contactors, contacting the liquid source with a first surface of the membrane or membrane contactors, coalescing the one or more oils within the liquid source onto the first surface of the membrane contactors, pumping one or more recovery fluids through the membrane or membrane contactors in contact with the second surface of the membrane or membrane contactors, and removing a first stream of oil coalesced from the second surface of the membranes or membrane contactors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: Frank Seibert, Stacy S. Truscott, Stephen William Briggs, Peter B. Kipp
  • Patent number: 9149772
    Abstract: The present invention includes a system and method for improving oil recovery from a liquid source of oil, comprising: a membrane contactor in contact with a liquid source of oil; a heating/cooling device connected to at least one of the liquid source of oil or a collection fluid; and a membrane contactor system having one or more membrane contactors having a first and a second surface, wherein at least one of the first or second surfaces coalesce one or more oils from the liquid source of oil allowing the coalesced oil to be collected on the opposite surface of the membrane, wherein a temperature differential between the liquid source of oil and the collection fluid enhances the oil recovery at the membrane contactor from the liquid source of oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignees: BOARD OF REGENTS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEMS, ORGANIC FUELS ALGAE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Frank Seibert, Stephen William Briggs, Stacy S. Truscott, Peter B. Kipp
  • Publication number: 20150087877
    Abstract: The present invention includes a system and method for improving oil recovery from a liquid source of oil, comprising: a membrane contactor in contact with a liquid source of oil; a heating/cooling device connected to at least one of the liquid source of oil or a collection fluid; and a membrane contactor system having one or more membrane contactors having a first and a second surface, wherein at least one of the first or second surfaces coalesce one or more oils from the liquid source of oil allowing the coalesced oil to be collected on the opposite surface of the membrane, wherein a temperature differential between the liquid source of oil and the collection fluid enhances the oil recovery at the membrane contactor from the liquid source of oil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Frank Seibert, Stephen William Briggs, Stacy S. Truscott, Peter B. Kipp
  • Publication number: 20140243573
    Abstract: The present invention includes methods and systems for improving oil quality of a contaminated oil mixture by removing contaminants from a contaminated oil comprising the steps of: pretreating a membrane contactor system having a first and a second surface with an hydrophobic liquid, wherein the hydrophobic liquid is contacted to at least one of the first and second surfaces; obtaining a contaminated oil that comprises oil and lipophobic contaminants; contacting the contaminated oil onto a first surface of one or more membrane contactors to coalesce the oil on the first surface; and collecting the coalesced oil from the contaminated oil on the second surface of the membrane contactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicants: Organic Fuels Algae Technologies, LLC, Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Frank Seibert, Stephen William Briggs, Stacy S. Truscott, Peter B. Kipp
  • Publication number: 20140131279
    Abstract: The present invention includes an apparatus and method for removing oil from a oil-containing liquid comprising oil and gas comprising: a source of oil-containing liquid; and a membrane contactor system in fluid communication with the source of oil-containing liquid, the membrane contactor system comprising one or more membrane contactors having a first and a second surface, wherein the first surface coalesces oil and removes gas from the oil-containing liquid, and the oil and gas are collected on the second surface from the oil-containing liquid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicants: Organic Fuels Algae Technologies, LLC, Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Frank Seibert, Stephen William Briggs, Stacy S. Truscott, Peter B. Kipp
  • Publication number: 20130334137
    Abstract: The present invention includes a method and system for separating oil from water and particulate contaminants from a oil/water/solid mixture, comprising: a solid removal system for removing small, medium and large solids from a oil/water/solid mixture to form a oil and water stream and a membrane contactor system for separating the oil from the water in the oil and water stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventors: Frank Seibert, Stacy S. Truscott, Stephen William Briggs
  • Publication number: 20130270187
    Abstract: A method of recovering one or more insoluble oils from a liquid source using one or more membrane or membrane contactors, comprising the steps of: pumping the liquid source comprising the one or more oils to the membranes or membrane contactors, contacting the liquid source with a first surface of the membrane or membrane contactors, coalescing the one or more oils within the liquid source onto the first surface of the membrane contactors, pumping one or more recovery fluids through the membrane or membrane contactors in contact with the second surface of the membrane or membrane contactors, and removing a first stream of oil coalesced from the second surface of the membranes or membrane contactors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Frank Seibert, Stacy S. Truscott, Stephen William Briggs, Peter B. Kipp
  • Patent number: 7687699
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a holder for drum sticks, drum brushes, mallets and other such percussion implements for playing percussion instruments. The drum stick holder (1), comprising a plurality of substantially parallel tubular sleeves (2), each sleeve being joined to at least one adjacent sleeve and having an entrance (7, 9) with dimensions suitable for receiving just one drum stick, wherein each sleeve (2) is formed from an elastomeric material so that each sleeve may grip a drum stick inserted into the sleeve (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Silclear Limited
    Inventors: Stephen William Briggs, John Martin Vecpuisis
  • Patent number: 6427624
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a teat cup liner for milking domestic animals such as cows and goats. The liner includes: an opening into which an animal's teat may be inserted; an outlet for discharging milk from the animal; a teat engaging portion with annular walls; and a collapsible portion having relatively thinner inner walls and seals for a teat cup shell between which lies all of the collapsible portion so a vacuum pressure may be applied to a teat cup assembly to milk the animal. The distance from the opening to a point at which the collapsible portion collapses is sufficient so that the collapsible portion collapses substantially away from the animal's teat. The collapsible portion has an elongate cross section, there being a tapering section between the teat engaging portion and the collapsible portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Inventors: Stephen William Briggs, Jacqueline Anne Carey