Patents by Inventor Steven P. Curran

Steven P. Curran 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: 5192028
    Abstract: Apparatus and a method is disclosed for processing wheat to produce white flour by substantially removing the bran layer from the endosperm and germ portions of the wheat grain and grinding the resulting wheat product to a relatively fine state in a roll and classification train that is much simpler than prior milling equipment. Thirteen grinds with intermediate sifting are replaced with one flattening and four grinding stations and three sifts. The initially tempered wheat is passed between spaced, smooth surfaced compression rolls which flatten the wheat grains and then directed between corrugated spiral breaking rolls rotated at different rotational rates with each roll having at least 20 surface corrugations per circumferential inch. The comminuted product is then directed between corrugated spiral grinding rolls rotated at different rotational rates and each having at least 26 corrugations per circumferential inch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Assignee: Kansas State University Research Foundation
    Inventor: Steven P. Curran
  • Patent number: 5114079
    Abstract: Apparatus and a method is disclosed for processing wheat to produce white flour by substantially removing the bran layer from the endosperm and germ portions of the wheat grain and grinding the resulting wheat product to a relatively fine state in a roll and classification train that is much simpler than prior milling equipment. Thirteen grinds with intermediate sifting are replaced with one flattening and four grinding stations and three sifts. The initially tempered wheat is passed between spaced, smooth surfaced compression rolls which flatten the wheat grains and then directed between corrugated spiral breaking rolls rotated at different rotational rates with each roll having at least 20 surface corrugations per circumferential inch. The comminuted product is then directed between corrugated spiral grinding rolls rotated at different rotational rates and each having at least 26 corrugations per circumferential inch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1992
    Assignee: Kansas State University Research Foundation
    Inventor: Steven P. Curran