Patents by Inventor Thomas F. Robertson

Thomas F. Robertson 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).

  • Publication number: 20240117295
    Abstract: The invention relates to prokaryotic cells for the production of polymers containing non-canonical amino acids, and to methods for making said cells. The invention also relates to newly obtainable polymers as produced by the cells of the invention. In addition, the invention relates to new orthogonal aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) and orthogonal tRNAs, which may be used in pairs and find utility in host cells such as, but not limited to, the prokaryotic cells of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Wesley E. ROBERTSON, Louise F. H. FUNKE, Daniel DE LA TORRE, Julius FREDENS, Thomas S. ELLIOTT, Daniel L. DUNKELMANN, Julian C.W. WILLIS, Adam T. BEATTIE, Jason W. CHIN
  • Publication number: 20230366541
    Abstract: A method heats a furnace process chamber with the combustion of fuel gas. The method heats the process chamber in a preheat mode when the temperature of the process chamber is below the autoignition temperature of the fuel gas. The preheat mode forms preheated combustion air by directing the combustion air through a regenerative bed. A stream of the preheated combustion air is directed into the process chamber in a condition unmixed with fuel gas. The preheat mode also forms a fuel rich mixture of the fuel gas and unheated combustion air. The fuel rich mixture is directed into the process chamber adjacent to the stream of preheated combustion air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Applicant: Fives North American Combustion, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas F. Robertson, Mark Hannum
  • Patent number: 11668460
    Abstract: A method heats a furnace process chamber with the combustion of fuel gas. The method heats the process chamber in a preheat mode when the temperature of the process chamber is below the autoignition temperature of the fuel gas. The preheat mode forms preheated combustion air by directing the combustion air through a regenerative bed. A stream of the preheated combustion air is directed into the process chamber in a condition unmixed with fuel gas. The preheat mode also forms a fuel rich mixture of the fuel gas and unheated combustion air. The fuel rich mixture is directed into the process chamber adjacent to the stream of preheated combustion air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: FIVES NORTH AMERICAN COMBUSTION, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas F. Robertson, Mark Hannum
  • Publication number: 20220373261
    Abstract: A furnace has a melting chamber with a periphery defined by a surrounding wall structure. The furnace is provided with a purge system configured to direct inert gas to flow downward in the melting chamber in the configuration of a curtain that adjoins the wall structure and reaches only partially around the periphery of the melting chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2021
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Applicant: Fives North American Combustion, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas F. Robertson, Douglas A. Clauss
  • Publication number: 20220205635
    Abstract: A method includes firing a first burner into a furnace process chamber in a first initial condition, firing a second burner into the process chamber in a second initial condition, and measuring temperature at each of an array of locations in the process chamber. The first burner is adjusted to a first adjusted condition while the second burner is being fired at the second initial condition, and a resulting first temperature change is measured at each of the locations. The second burner is adjusted to a second adjusted condition while the first burner is being fired at the first initial condition, and a resulting second temperature change is measured at each of the locations. The measured first and second temperature changes are recorded as reference data for adjusting burner conditions to adjust temperatures at each of the locations. The method can thus be used to improve temperature uniformity throughout the array of locations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Applicant: Fives North American Combustion, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas F. Robertson, Benjamin M. Witoff, Justin R. Dzik
  • Publication number: 20220196238
    Abstract: A method heats a furnace process chamber with the combustion of fuel gas. The method heats the process chamber in a preheat mode when the temperature of the process chamber is below the autoignition temperature of the fuel gas. The preheat mode forms preheated combustion air by directing the combustion air through a regenerative bed. A stream of the preheated combustion air is directed into the process chamber in a condition unmixed with fuel gas. The preheat mode also forms a fuel rich mixture of the fuel gas and unheated combustion air. The fuel rich mixture is directed into the process chamber adjacent to the stream of preheated combustion air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Publication date: June 23, 2022
    Applicant: Fives North American Combustion, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas F. Robertson, Mark Hannum
  • Patent number: 10344971
    Abstract: Air and fuel are directed from a burner outlet into a furnace process chamber in streams concentric on an axis, including an annular peripheral stream that includes fuel gas and adjoins products of combustion in the process chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Fives North American Combustion, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd A. Miller, Thomas F. Robertson
  • Publication number: 20190162473
    Abstract: A radiant heating panel has an inner side surface configured to face into a combustion chamber and an outer side surface configured to face oppositely away from the combustion chamber. The panel has interconnected sections formed of ceramic material. The panel sections are elongated with adjacent longitudinal edge portions, and are joined and sealed together along the adjacent longitudinal edge portions. The outer side surface of the panel has a contour that undulates laterally across the panel sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Publication date: May 30, 2019
    Applicant: Fives North American Combustion, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas A. Clauss, Thomas F. Robertson
  • Patent number: 10281140
    Abstract: A steam generator system employing a fired burner with a flue gas recirculation system with low NOx emission is disclosed. A method to retrofit fired burners for low NOx emission is also disclosed. In the system, the flue gas recirculation system is configured to include a pre-mixer, and the recirculated flue gas (RFG) is routed to the stage of the pre-mixer for mixing with a portion of the fuel stream, forming a secondary RFG fuel mixture. The secondary RFG fuel mixture is routed to the secondary stage of the burner via a plurality of injector ports. The injection of the second RFG fuel mixture results in a reduction of temperature for the NOx emission to be less than 5 ppm at 3% O2, dry basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Thomas F. Robertson, John J. Nowakowski, Mark C. Hannum, Stein J. Storslett
  • Patent number: 10215408
    Abstract: A method directs fuel-oxidant premix into a reaction zone through a first total premix inlet flow area, and causes the premix to combust and form a stable flame projecting into a process chamber through an outlet from the reaction zone. At a time when the process chamber has a temperature at or above an auto-ignition temperature of the fuel, the flame is blown off to initiate diffuse combustion in the process chamber without a stable flame. The flame is blown off by directing the premix into the reaction zone through a second total premix inlet flow area greater than the first total premix inlet flow area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Fives North American Combustion, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas F. Robertson
  • Patent number: 10145557
    Abstract: A method supplies reactants, including fuel gas, to burners that discharge the reactants into a furnace process chamber. In a stable flame mode of operation, stable flames are projected from the burners into the furnace process chamber. At a time when the furnace process chamber has a temperature at or above an autoignition temperature of the fuel gas, a diffuse combustion mode is initiated by supplying a selected burner with additional reactants, including reactants diverted from another burner, to blow off the stable flame at the selected burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Fives North American Combustion, Inc.
    Inventors: John N. Newby, Thomas F. Robertson, Bruce E. Cain
  • Patent number: 9909755
    Abstract: A low NOx combustion method includes steps of injecting reactants into a combustion chamber. A primary reactant stream, including fuel and combustion air premix, is injected from a premix burner port into the combustion chamber. A staged fuel stream is injected into the combustion chamber from a staged fuel injector port adjacent to the premix burner port. A stream of recirculated flue gas is injected into the combustion chamber from a flue gas injector port that is adjacent to the premix burner port and adjacent to the staged fuel injector port. In this manner, the stream of recirculated flue gas is injected into the combustion chamber unmixed with the primary reactant stream and unmixed with the staged fuel stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Fives North American Combustion, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas F. Robertson, Bruce E. Cain, John J. Nowakowski, Mark C. Hannum
  • Publication number: 20170356645
    Abstract: Air and fuel are directed from a burner outlet into a furnace process chamber in streams concentric on an axis, including an annular peripheral stream that includes fuel gas and adjoins products of combustion in the process chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Applicant: Fives North American Combustion, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd A. Miller, Thomas F. Robertson
  • Publication number: 20170167725
    Abstract: A method directs fuel-oxidant premix into a reaction zone through a first total premix inlet flow area, and causes the premix to combust and form a stable flame projecting into a process chamber through an outlet from the reaction zone. At a time when the process chamber has a temperature at or above an auto-ignition temperature of the fuel, the flame is blown off to initiate diffuse combustion in the process chamber without a stable flame. The flame is blown off by directing the premix into the reaction zone through a second total premix inlet flow area greater than the first total premix inlet flow area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Applicant: Fives North American Combustion, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas F. Robertson
  • Patent number: 9541280
    Abstract: A steam generator has a heat exchange chamber with an upstream end and a downstream end. The steam generator further has a burner that injects primary reactants, including fuel and combustion air, into the chamber at the upstream end. A first branch of a once-through water line is located within the chamber downstream of the burner. A second branch of the once-through water line is connected in parallel with the first branch, and is located within the chamber downstream of the first branch. A fuel injector is arranged to inject staged fuel into the chamber at a staged location downstream of the first branch of the once-through water line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: FIVES NORTH AMERICAN COMBUSTION, INC.
    Inventor: Thomas F. Robertson
  • Publication number: 20160305661
    Abstract: A method supplies reactants, including fuel gas, to burners that discharge the reactants into a furnace process chamber. In a stable flame mode of operation, stable flames are projected from the burners into the furnace process chamber. At a time when the furnace process chamber has a temperature at or above an autoignition temperature of the fuel gas, a diffuse combustion mode is initiated by supplying a selected burner with additional reactants, including reactants diverted from another burner, to blow off the stable flame at the selected burner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Applicant: Fives North American Combustion, Inc.
    Inventors: John N. Newby, Thomas F. Robertson, Bruce E. Cain
  • Publication number: 20160018102
    Abstract: A steam generator system employing a fired burner with a flue gas recirculation system with low NOx emission is disclosed. A method to retrofit fired burners for low NOx emission is also disclosed. In the system, the flue gas recirculation system is configured to include a pre-mixer, and the recirculated flue gas (RFG) is routed to the stage of the pre-mixer for mixing with a portion of the fuel stream, forming a secondary RFG fuel mixture. The secondary RFG fuel mixture is routed to the secondary stage of the burner via a plurality of injector ports. The injection of the second RFG fuel mixture results in a reduction of temperature for the NOx emission to be less than 5 ppm at 3% O2, dry basis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas F. Robertson, John J. Nowakowski, Mark C. Hannum, Stein J. Storslett
  • Publication number: 20150354807
    Abstract: A steam generator has a heat exchange chamber with an upstream end and a downstream end. The steam generator further has a burner that injects primary reactants, including fuel and combustion air, into the chamber at the upstream end. A first branch of a once-through water line is located within the chamber downstream of the burner. A second branch of the once-through water line is connected in parallel with the first branch, and is located within the chamber downstream of the first branch. A fuel injector is arranged to inject staged fuel into the chamber at a staged location downstream of the first branch of the once-through water line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Applicant: FIVES NORTH AMERICAN COMBUSTION, INC.
    Inventor: Thomas F. Robertson
  • Patent number: 8961169
    Abstract: A method includes the steps of operating a regenerative burner in cycles, including a firing cycle in which fuel and combustion air are discharged from the burner into a process chamber, and a nonfiring cycle in which a quantity of gas is withdrawn from the process chamber through a regenerative bed associated with the burner. The method further includes steps of detecting and responding to a temperature that differs from a predetermined temperature at a location in the process chamber. In a first step of responding to the detected temperature, a flue damper system is operated to vary a flow of gas within the process chamber relative to the location of the detected temperature. A second step of responding to the detected temperature reduces the quantity of gas to be withdrawn from the process chamber through the regenerative bed in a subsequent nonfiring cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Fives North American Combustion, Inc.
    Inventors: John N. Newby, Thomas F. Robertson, Justin R. Dzik, William E. Tracey
  • Publication number: 20140272736
    Abstract: A low NOx combustion method includes steps of injecting reactants into a combustion chamber. A primary reactant stream, including fuel and combustion air premix, is injected from a premix burner port into the combustion chamber. A staged fuel stream is injected into the combustion chamber from a staged fuel injector port adjacent to the premix burner port. A stream of recirculated flue gas is injected into the combustion chamber from a flue gas injector port that is adjacent to the premix burner port and adjacent to the staged fuel injector port. In this manner, the stream of recirculated flue gas is injected into the combustion chamber unmixed with the primary reactant stream and unmixed with the staged fuel stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Thomas F. Robertson, Bruce E. Cain, John J. Nowakowski, Mark C. Hannum