Patents by Inventor Thomas A. Hill

Thomas A. Hill 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: 7620155
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for mechanizing the currently manual ADSL loop testing process is disclosed. In one embodiment, an automated loop testing device is disclosed, where the loop testing device has a pair of terminals, e.g., RJ-11 jacks on both sides of the device. The jack on one side connects to inside wiring which, in turn, connects to an ADSL modem. The other jack connects to an outside line which, in turn, connects to a central office of a network provider. In operation, the present device detects a line voltage reversal and then disconnects the input line to the ADSL Modem. When the voltage returns to normal, then the device behaves normally by being closed, essentially acting as a pass through device and again connects the input lines to the output lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Farhad Barzegar, Irwin Gerszberg, Thomas Hill, Scott Mollica
  • Publication number: 20090125155
    Abstract: A method is provided for deriving optimized operating parameter settings for industrial furnaces of different designs as commonly used in power generation that will achieve robust and desirable operations (for example, low NOx and low CO emissions while maintaining specific furnace exit gas temperatures). The method includes the application of recursive partitioning algorithms to historical process data to identify critical combinations of ranges of operational parameter (combinations of settings) that will result in robust (low-variability) desirable (optimized) boiler performance, based on empirical evidence in the historical data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Thomas Hill, Pawel Lewicki
  • Patent number: 7518024
    Abstract: A process for preparing 1-butene from 1-butane, which includes providing a n-butane-containing feed gas stream; introducing of the n-butane-containing feed gas stream into at least one dehydrogenation zone and nonoxidative catalytic dehydrogenation of n-butane; removing hydrogen, the low-boiling secondary constituents and optionally water vapor to give a C4 product gas stream containing 10-80% by volume of n-butane, 5-40% by volume of 1-butene, 10-50% by volume of 2-butene, 0-40% by volume of butadiene and 0-10% by volume of further gas constituents; introducing the C4 product gas stream containing 10-80% by volume of n-butane, 10-60% by volume of 1-butene, 15-60% by volume of 2-butene, 0-5% by volume of butadiene and 0-10% by volume of further gas constituents, into a selective hydrogenation zone and selective hydrogenation of butadiene to 1- and/or 2-butene to give stream consisting essentially of n-butane, 1-butene and 2-butene; and separating of the stream distillation into a desired product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Götz-Peter Schindler, Andreas Brodhagen, Thorsten Johann, Thomas Hill
  • Publication number: 20090082562
    Abstract: A process for preparing an amine by reacting an aldehyde and/or ketone with hydrogen and a nitrogen compound selected from the group of primary and secondary amines in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst, wherein the catalyst is a coated catalyst which comprises at least one metal of group VIII of the Periodic Table of the Elements as a hydrogenating metal and additionally a promoter on an oxidic support, at least 80% of the metal of group VIII of the Periodic Table of the Elements being present in a layer between the surface of the catalyst and a penetration depth which is not more than 80% of the radius of the catalyst, calculated from the surface of the catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Publication date: March 26, 2009
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventors: Jan Eberhardt, Bram Willem Hoffer, Frank Haese, Johann-Peter Melder, Bernd Stein, Michael Stang, Thomas Hill, Ekkehard Schwab
  • Publication number: 20090069590
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing an aminoalkyl nitrile by reaction of a corresponding monoamine with a corresponding alkenyl nitrile in a continuous mode of operation, which comprises the steps (a) introduction of the corresponding monoamine into a continuously conveyed reaction stream; (b) introduction of the corresponding alkenyl nitrite into the reaction stream, with this already comprising the aminoalkyl nitrile on addition; (c) reaction of the reaction stream in a first reaction region; and (d) at least partial transfer of the reaction stream into at least one second reaction region for further reaction. The invention further relates to a process for preparing a diamine from the aminoalkyl nitrile, suitable apparatuses for carrying out the processes and their corresponding use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jan Eberhardt, Thilo Hahn, Johann-Peter Melder, Gerhard Fritz, Volkmar Menger, Thomas Hill
  • Patent number: 7497931
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for recovering 3-aminomethyl-3,5,5-trim-ethylcyclohexylamine (isophoronediamine, IPDA) having a fractionally distilled cis/trans isomer ratio of at least 73/27. The process includes the following steps: a) providing IPDA in a cis/trans isomer ratio of <73/27; b) feeding IPDA into the middle region of a distillation column having internals and distilling the IPDA in this distillation column at a temperature of from 5 to 300.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Frank Funke, Thomas Hill, Jobst Rüdiger Von Watzdorf, Wolfgang Mattmann, Wolfgang Harder, Erhard Henkes, Gerd Littmann, Manfred Julius
  • Patent number: 7485761
    Abstract: A process for preparing 1-butene, which includes nonoxidatively, catalytically dehydrogenating n-butane to obtain a product gas stream of n-butane, 1-butene, 2-butene, butadiene, hydrogen, and secondary constituents; removing hydrogen and the secondary constituents to obtain a C4 product gas stream; separating the C4 product stream into a recycle stream of n-butane and a stream of 1-butene, 2-butene and butadiene by extractive distillation, and recirculating the recycle stream to the dehydrogenation zone; introducing the 1 -butene, 2-butene and butadiene stream into a selective hydrogenation zone and selective hydrogenation of butadiene to 1-butene and/or 2-butene to obtain a stream of 1-butene and 2-butene; introducing the 1-butene and 2-butene stream, and a circulating stream of 1-butene and 2-butene into a distillation zone and isolation of a product stream; and introducing the 2-butene-containing stream into an isomerization zone to obtain a circulating stream of 1-butene and 2-butene, and recirculating t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Götz-Peter Schindler, Andreas Brodhagen, Thorsten Johann, Thomas Hill, Marcus Sigl, Regina Benfer
  • Publication number: 20090030250
    Abstract: A catalyst on an oxidic support and processes for selectively hydrogenating unsaturated compounds in hydrocarbon streams comprising them using these catalysts are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: BASF AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Thomas Hill, Hermann Petersen, Germain Kons, Henrik Junicke
  • Patent number: 7482500
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a process for preparing butadiene. The process involves nonoxidatively catalytically dehydrogenating butane to obtain a product gas stream containing butane, 1-butene, 2-butene, butadiene, hydrogen and secondary constituents. The 1-butene and 2-butene of the product gas stream is then oxidatively dehydrogenated to give a second gas stream containing butane,2-butene, butadiene, hydrogen, steam and secondary constituents. Next, the butane,2-butene and butadiene are separated from the second gas stream and the butane and 2-butene are then separated from the butadiene product. The butane and 2-butene are then recycled into the nonoxidative catalytic dehydrogenating zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thorsten Johann, Götz-Peter Schindler, Andreas Brodhagen, Sven Crone, Regina Benfer, Thomas Hill, Mark Duda
  • Patent number: 7462277
    Abstract: In a continuous process for fractionating a C4 fraction (C4) by extractive distillation using a selective solvent (LM) in an extractive distillation column (EDK), it is proposed that a dividing wall (TW) is installed in the longitudinal direction in the extractive distillation column (EDK) to form a first region (A), a second region (B) and a lower combined column region (C) and a top stream (C4H10) comprising the butanes is taken off from the first region (A), a top stream (C4H8) comprising the butenes is taken off from the second region (B) and a stream (C4H6) comprising the hydrocarbons from the C4 fraction which are more soluble in the selective solvent (LM) than are the butanes and the butenes is taken off from the lower combined column region (C).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Till Adrian, Thomas Hill, Klaus Kindler, Bernd Heida
  • Publication number: 20080188703
    Abstract: A process is proposed for obtaining a stream of aliphatic hydrocarbons comprising from 5 to 12 carbon atoms per molecule, with an increased proportion of linear ?-olefins compared to a feed stream of aliphatic hydrocarbons comprising from 5 to 12 carbon atoms per molecule, with a content of linear ?-olefins, linear internal olefins and dienes, wherein the feed stream is fed to a first distillation zone D1 having at least 5 theoretical plates, in which the linear ?-olefins are removed partly or fully as a component of a vapor stream which additionally also comprises the dienes, and at whose lower end a liquid stream is obtained which has been depleted partly or fully of linear ?-olefins, the liquid stream from the lower end of the first distillation zone D1 is introduced into a isomerization unit which is equipped with an isomerization catalyst over which the linear internal olefins are isomerized partly or fully to linear ?-olefins, and the linear ?-olefins formed in this way are removed as a component of
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Applicant: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Hill, Christian Miller
  • Publication number: 20080188696
    Abstract: A C4-olefin mixture having a 1,3-butadiene content of from 100 to 500 ppm and a content of 1,2-dienes of less than 10 ppm is described. The present invention further provides a process for preparing this C4-olefin mixture and provides for its use in a metathesis reaction for preparing 2-pentene and/or 3-hexene.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Applicant: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jurgen Stephan, Andreas Brodhagen, Markus Schubert, Frank Poplow, Michael Roper, Thomas Hill
  • Publication number: 20080164138
    Abstract: A process is proposed for obtaining a stream of aliphatic hydrocarbons comprising from 4 to 12 carbon atoms per molecule, with an increased proportion of linear ?-olefins compared to a feed stream of aliphatic hydrocarbons comprising from 4 to 12 carbon atoms per molecule, with a content of linear ?-olefins, linear internal olefins and dienes, wherein the feed stream is fed to a first distillation zone D1 having at least 5 theoretical plates, in which the linear ?-olefins are removed partly or fully as a component of a vapor stream which additionally also comprises the dienes, and at whose lower end a liquid stream is obtained which has been depleted partly or fully of linear ?-olefins, the liquid stream from the lower end of the first distillation zone D1 is introduced into a isomerization unit which is equipped with an isomerization catalyst over which the linear internal olefins are isomerized partly or fully to linear ?-olefins, and the linear ?-olefins formed in this way are removed as a component of
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: BASF Aktiengellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Hill, Christian Miller
  • Patent number: 7393992
    Abstract: Sudstituted the abstract with a new abstract as follows: The invention relates to a continuous process for separation a mixture of hydrocarbons which has beenobtained by extractive distillation of C4 fraction useing a selective solvent and the hydrocarbons from the fraction C4 which are more readily soluble in the selective solvent than are the butanes and the butenes. The mixture is fed into a first distillation column in which it is separated into a steam which is taken off at the top and comprises 1,3-butadiene, propyne, possibly further low boilers and possibly water and a bottom stream comprising 1,3-butadiene, 1,2-butadiene, acetylenes and possibly further high boilers, with the proportion of 1,3-butadiene in the bottom stream from the distillatin column being regulated in such a way that it is at least sufficiently high to dilute the acetylenes to outside the range in which there is a risk of spontaneous decomposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Hill, Klaus Kindler, Bernd Heida
  • Publication number: 20080000642
    Abstract: Bypass assembly 100 includes stinger 150 received by receptacle bore 172 of tubular receiver 120 attached to tube 106. Bypass pathway 140 connects stinger port(s) (158, 158?) to slip hanger 122 supported hydraulic conduit 108 to bypass the tube 106. Tube 106 can be a subsurface safety valve or hydraulic nipple anchored within production tubing. Bypass assembly 200 includes upper 202 and lower 203 hydraulic nipples in production tubing 210, with respective tubular anchor seal assemblies (220, 230) engaged therein. Bypass pathway 214 connects hydraulic conduit 208 to slip hanger 242 supported hydraulic conduit 216 to bypass tubular anchor seal assemblies (220, 230). Bypass assembly 300 includes upper 302 and lower 303 hydraulic nipples in production tubing 310, with respective tubular anchor seal assemblies (320, 330) engaged therein. Bypass passage 318 connects stinger 350 to slip hanger 342 supported hydraulic conduit 316 to bypass tubular anchor seal assemblies (320, 330).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Applicant: BJ Services Company
    Inventors: Jason Mailand, Lonnie West, Adrian Saran, Glenn Bahr, Thomas Hill
  • Publication number: 20070256719
    Abstract: A flexible waterproof flood protection container for protecting possessions from flood water, comprises a variable volume housing into which possessions can be placed and which can be water tightly sealed; means for stabilising the sealed housing when subjected to flood water, and two or more one-way valves for discharging air from the housing. The in use stabilising means defines two or more chambers in the housing as the interior volume of the housing varies. The chambers stabilise the housing when buoyant in flood water. The two or more one-way valves discharge air from the housing via the chambers, each one-way valve in use being in direct communication with one of the chambers defined by the stabilizing means. Due to the variable volume housing, when the housing is subjected to external pressure, the housing at least partially conforms to the possessions therein. Preferably, the housing has at least an expandable base by which the volume of the housing varies in use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Publication date: November 8, 2007
    Inventor: Robert Thomas Hill
  • Publication number: 20070218910
    Abstract: A communication system and a method of communicating backhaul data. The communication system can include a controller. The controller can dynamically select from a plurality of backhaul sites at least a first backhaul site to establish a backhaul communication link with an access point. The controller also can generate a control signal that indicates to the access point to beam steer a backhaul signal to the first backhaul site. The access point can include a phased array that dynamically beam steers the backhaul signal in azimuth and elevation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2006
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Inventors: Thomas Hill, Jeff Anderson, Brian Classon, Michael Kotzin, Sivakumar Muthuswamy, Joseph Schuler
  • Publication number: 20070210618
    Abstract: A tractor cab roof with integral HVAC air ducts includes an upper roof member and a lower roof member. The upper roof member includes a top panel, downwardly depending side edges, and a downwardly depending rear edge. The lower roof member includes a central panel, left and right side panels below the central panel, a rear panel below the central panel, sloping side walls, and a sloping rear wall. Conditioned air ducts are between the upper roof member and the left and right side panels, with conditioned air outlet apertures in the sloping side walls. An evaporator/heater core is mounted on the rear panel, with an air mixing chamber to the rear and a conditioned air discharge cavity in front. Recirculating air intake apertures are provided where the sloping rear wall joins the rear panel. A pair of blowers move conditioned air from the conditioned air chamber into the conditioned air ducts. The flow of conditioned air crosses over the recirculating air in a figure eight pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Inventors: Thomas Hill, Paul Elhardt, Michael Caudill
  • Patent number: 7256313
    Abstract: The invention relates to processes for preparing 3-aminomethyl-3,5,5-trimethylcyclo-hexylamine (isophoronediamine, IPDA) having a high cis/trans isomer ratio. IPDA having a cis/trans isomer ratio in the range from 63/37 to 66/34 can be obtained in any desired cis/trans isomer ratio, irrespective of temperature, by reacting IPDA with H2 and NH3 in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst. IPDA having a cis/trans isomer ratio of at least 73/27 which is an important starting material for the synthesis of polyurethanes and polyamides can be obtained by combining this isomerization process with distillative processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Frank Funke, Thomas Hill, Jobst Rüdiger Von Watzdorf, Wolfgang Mattmann, Wolfgang Harder, Erhard Henkes, Gerd Littmann, Manfred Julius
  • Patent number: RE40714
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a content management system for receiving, editing, and distributing data across a network. The method includes accessing the data stored in a database, presenting the data for inspection, and assigning the data to at least one target location for distribution. Another embodiment of the present invention is a user interface operating on a computing device for editing data in the content management system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: The Belo Company
    Inventors: Michael Blane Dabney, David Thomas Hill, Lourdes Maria Trujillo, Melda Marie Washington, Ronald Gene Lee, James C. Jennings, III, Christopher J. Feola