Patents by Inventor Steven J. Dougherty

Steven J. Dougherty 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: 6450006
    Abstract: A method for the control of actuation force in apparatus for determining entrained gas-phase content of process streams wherein the apparatus comprise compression of the process stream, measurement of the compressive behavior, and calculation of the volume of the entrained gas phase. In the apparatus, a piston device is rapidly translated into the process stream. The inertia of the liquid adjacent to the end of the piston causes the volume of fluid close to the end of the piston to be compressed by the movement of the piston. A pressure sensor integrally incorporated in the end of the piston measures the pressure pulse caused by the rapid movement of the piston. The pressure pulse is inversely proportional to entrained gas phase content. An accelerometer incorporated within the piston measures the acceleration of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Inventor: Steven J. Dougherty
  • Patent number: 5932792
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining entrained gas-phase content of process streams comprising compression of the process stream, measurement of the compressive behavior, and calculation of the volume of the entrained gas-phase. A piston device is rapidly translated into the process stream. The inertia of the liquid adjacent to the end of the piston causes the volume of fluid close to the end of the piston to serve as a dynamic containment vessel so that the liquid adjacent to the piston is compressed by the movement of the piston. A pressure sensor integrally incorporated in the end of the piston measures the pressure pulse caused by the rapid movement of the piston. The pressure pulse is inversely related to the volumetric fraction of gas phase in the liquid adjacent to the end of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Inventor: Steven J. Dougherty
  • Patent number: 5454912
    Abstract: A sample of slurry is withdrawn continuously from a pressure pipe through which the slurry flows by a diluting sample-extractor mounted on the pipe. Dilution water is added continuously to the extractor to mix with the withdrawn sample to provide dilute slurry, and the quality of the dilute slurry is evaluated by passing it through a viewing window chamber and taking periodic photographs of the dilute slurry passing through such viewing window chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Inventor: Steven J. Dougherty
  • Patent number: 4632814
    Abstract: An improved process for stabilizing wet process phosphoric acid is described in which the acid is treated with pressurized carbon dioxide and then is aged so as to enhance the rate of post-precipitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1986
    Assignee: International Minerals & Chemical Corp.
    Inventors: Steven J. Dougherty, Ray E. Barker
  • Patent number: 4001289
    Abstract: There is described an improvement in the process of recovering alcohol products formed by the homogeneous liquid phase reaction between oxides of carbon and hydrogen in the presence of a rhodium carbonyl complex catalyst which process involves mixing water and an essentially water-immiscible solvent with the solution containing products of such reaction to cause the alcohol products to enter the water phase and the rhodium to enter into the water-immiscible solvent phase. The alcohol products are recovered from the water phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1974
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1977
    Assignee: Union Carbide Corporation
    Inventors: Steven J. Dougherty, Rex C. Wells