Patents by Inventor Thomas H. Orac

Thomas H. Orac 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: 20120186968
    Abstract: Provided is a kiln lens comprising an annular structure defined by a section rotated about an axis. The section comprises a top surface, a base surface, an upstream surface forming an angle with the base of from 10 to 75 degrees, inclusive, and a downstream surface forming an angle with the base of from 10 to 75 degrees, inclusive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Inventor: Thomas H. Orac
  • Publication number: 20030106836
    Abstract: A method for producing a high-flash-point impregnating pitch that comprises charging coal tar into a batch still; heating the coal tar to an intermediate liquid state of soft pitch; maintaining the intermediate temperature of the soft pitch at a steady level; and introducing sparging gas while maintaining the temperature of the coal tar at a substantially steady level. The method of the present invention provides a pitch that has a softening point of about 90° C. and a flash point of above about 270° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventor: Thomas H. Orac
  • Patent number: 5478442
    Abstract: A rotary hearth calciner for treating petroleum cokes with a puffing inhibitor has a horizontal or inwardly sloping hearth floor rotatable around a vertical axis for receiving particles of coke to be calcined and a central opening in the hearth floor for discharging the coke into a soaking pit. A water cooled, refractory covered feed pipe extending downward into the calciner interior has an inlet for connection to a source of petroleum coke puffing inhibitor and an outlet near the edge of the hearth central floor opening for adding the puffing inhibitor to the coke as the coke is discharged from said hearth floor. The feed pipe outlet is approximately at or below the level of the hearth floor to reduce loss of inhibitor in gas flow above the hearth floor. A puffing inhibitor such as sodium carbonate is supplied by a screw feed mechanism to the feed pipe to add the puffing inhibitor at a desired rate for reaction with the coke. The coke is normally maintained in the soaking pit for about 30 minutes at 1200.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: UCAR Carbon Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas H. Orac
  • Patent number: 5118287
    Abstract: A process for treating high sulfur petroleum coke to inhibit puffing is disclosed wherein particles of the petroleum coke are contacted with a compound containing an alkali or alkaline earth metal selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium, at an elevated temperature above that at which the alkali or alkaline earth metal compound begins to react with carbon, but below the temperature at which the coke particles would begin to puff in the absence of the compound. The coke particles are maintained at an elevated temperature for a sufficient period of time to permit the reaction to proceed and allow products of reaction to penetrate into the particles and form an alkali-or alkaline-earth-metal-containing deposit throughout the mass of the particles; and then cooling the so-treated coke particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Assignee: UCAR Carbon Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas H. Orac, Herbert C. Quandt, David R. Ball
  • Patent number: 5110359
    Abstract: A process for treating high sulfur petroleum coke to inhibit puffing is disclosed wherein particles of the petroleum coke are contacted with a compound containing an alkali or alkaline earth metal selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium, at an elevated temperature above that at which the alkali or alkaline earth metal compound begins to react with carbon, but below the temperature at which the coke particles would begin to puff in the absence of the compound. The coke particles are maintained at the elevated temperature for a sufficient period of time to permit the reaction to proceed and allow products of reaction to penetrate into the particles and form an alkali-or alkaline-earth-metal-containing deposit throughout the mass of the particles; and then cooling the so-treated coke particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1992
    Assignee: Ucar Carbon Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas H. Orac, Herbert C. Quandt, David R. Ball
  • Patent number: 4875979
    Abstract: A process for treating high sulfur petroleum coke to inhibit puffing is disclosed wherein particles of the petroleum coke are contacted, in the absence of a binder, with a compound containing an alkali or alkaline earth metal selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium, at an elevated temperature above that at which the alkali or alkaline earth metal compound begins to react with carbon, but below the temperature at which the coke particles would begin to puff in the absence of the compound. The coke particles are maintained at the elevated temperature for a sufficient period of time to permit the reaction to proceed and allow products of reaction to penetrate into the particles and form an alkali-or alkaline-earth-metal-containing deposit throughout the mass of the particles; and then cooling the so-treated coke particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1989
    Assignee: Union Carbide Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas H. Orac, Herbert C. Quandt, David R. Ball