Patents by Inventor Steven M. Vanderbur

Steven M. Vanderbur 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).

  • Versatile Systems for Continuous In-Line Blending of Butane and Petroleum
    Publication number: 20100084047
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for in-line processes of blending butane into gasoline streams, and for blending butane into a gasoline stream at any point along a petroleum pipeline. The invention additionally provides a method for measuring the vapor pressure and vapor to liquid ratio of the gasoline, both upstream and downstream of the blending operation, as well as the sulfur content of the butane entering the blending operation. The blending operation can be controlled to ensure that the blended gasoline meets EPA requirements for vapor pressure and sulfur content of gasoline. The invention further provides a method for accessing and monitoring the operation off-site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Publication date: April 8, 2010
    Inventors: Larry D. Mattingly, Steven M. Vanderbur
  • Versatile systems for continuous in-line blending of butane and petroleum
    Patent number: 7631671
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for in-line processes of blending butane into gasoline streams, and for blending butane into a gasoline stream at any point along a petroleum pipeline. The invention additionally provides a method for measuring the vapor pressure and vapor to liquid ratio of the gasoline, both upstream and downstream of the blending operation, as well as the sulfur content of the butane entering the blending operation. The blending operation can be controlled to ensure that the blended gasoline meets EPA requirements for vapor pressure and sulfur content of gasoline. The invention further provides a method for accessing and monitoring the operation off-site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: MCE Blending, LLC
    Inventors: Larry D. Mattingly, Steven M. Vanderbur
  • Method and system for blending gasoline and butane at the point of distribution
    Patent number: 7032629
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for blending butane with gasoline at petroleum tank farms, immediately before distribution to tanker trucks. The invention provides a method for blending gasoline and butane at a tank farm comprising: (a) drawing a gasoline stream from a tank of gasoline; (b) drawing a butane stream from a tank of butane; (c) blending the butane and gasoline streams to form a blend; and (d) dispensing the blend. The blending process can be controlled to ensure that the vapor pressure of the blended gasoline meets vapor pressure requirements of environmental regulations. Information generated by the blending process can be used to efficiently forecast butane purchasing requirements, and to generate regulatory reports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: MCE Blending, LLC
    Inventors: Larry D. Mattingly, Steven M. Vanderbur
  • Method and system for blending gasoline and butane at the point of distribution
    Patent number: 6679302
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for blending butane with gasoline at petroleum tank farms, immediately before distribution to tanker trucks. The invention provides a method for blending gasoline and butane at a tank farm comprising: (a) drawing a gasoline stream from a tank of gasoline; (b) drawing a butane stream from a tank of butane; (c) blending the butane and gasoline streams to form a blend; and (d) dispensing the blend. The blending process can be controlled to ensure that the vapor pressure of the blended gasoline meets vapor pressure requirements of environmental regulations. Information generated by the blending process can be used to efficiently forecast butane purchasing requirements, and to generate regulatory reports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2004
    Assignee: MCE Blending, LLC
    Inventors: Larry D. Mattingly, Steven M. Vanderbur