Patents by Inventor Thomas W. O'Brien

Thomas W. O'Brien 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: 9107967
    Abstract: A method of reducing toxins in stored crops comprises producing a stream of aqueous or gas ClO2 and exposing the stored crops to the ClO2 wherein the ClO2 kills toxin-producing microorganisms and/or reacts with toxins to reduce the toxins in said stored crops. An apparatus for reducing toxins in stored crops comprises a treatment area for containing the stored crops and a ClO2 generator comprising an inlet for introducing at least one chlorine-containing feed chemical and an outlet for exhausting a stream of aqueous or gas ClO2 from the generator into the treatment area wherein introducing the ClO2 kills toxin-producing microorganisms and/or reacts with toxin molecules to reduce the toxins in the stored crops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Pureline Treatment Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas W. O'Connell
  • Publication number: 20130071287
    Abstract: A method of reducing toxins in stored crops comprises producing a stream of aqueous or gas ClO2 and exposing the stored crops to the ClO2 wherein the ClO2 kills toxin-producing microorganisms and/or reacts with toxins to reduce the toxins in said stored crops. An apparatus for reducing toxins in stored crops comprises a treatment area for containing the stored crops and a ClO2 generator comprising an inlet for introducing at least one chlorine-containing feed chemical and an outlet for exhausting a stream of aqueous or gas ClO2 from the generator into the treatment area wherein introducing the ClO2 kills toxin-producing microorganisms and/or reacts with toxin molecules to reduce the toxins in the stored crops.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: PURELINE TREATMENT SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas W. O'Connell
  • Publication number: 20110200614
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to diagnostic tools and therapies using antibodies to Bacillus anthracis. Specifically, the present invention is directed to a B. anthracis-specific monoclonal antibody that binds to the EA1 antigen (corresponding to the eag gene) of the S-layer (surface layer) of spores. This monoclonal antibody may be used in a variety of applications, including to specifically detect and diagnose B. anthracis. Preferably, antibodies are monoclonal and bind to a surface protein, such as EA1 protein, on the spores of B. anthracis, and not to spores of either B. cereus or B. thuringiensis. Antibodies can be incorporated into detection kits using, for example, colloidal particle based lateral flow detection system. Such detection kits can distinguish anthrax spores from non-pathogenic varieties of spores. In addition, the invention is directed to B.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Publication date: August 18, 2011
    Inventors: Beverly Lynn Mangold, Jennifer Lynn Aldrich, Thomas W. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 7618783
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to diagnostic tools and therapies using antibodies to Bacillus anthracis. Specifically, the present invention is directed to a B. anthracis-specific monoclonal antibody that binds to the EA1 antigen (corresponding to the eag gene) of the S-layer (surface layer) of spores. This monoclonal antibody may be used in a variety of applications, including to specifically detect and diagnose B. anthracis. Preferably, antibodies are monoclonal and bind to a surface protein, such as EA1 protein, on the spores of B. anthracis, and not to spores of either B. cereus or B. thuringiensis. Antibodies can be incorporated into detection kits using, for example, colloidal particle based lateral flow detection system. Such detection kits can distinguish anthrax spores from non-pathogenic varieties of spores. In addition, the invention is directed to B.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Tetracore, Inc.
    Inventors: Beverly Lynn Mangold, Jennifer Lynn Aldrich, Thomas W. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 7111710
    Abstract: Vanes positioned immediately adjacent the swept area of a moving friction brake rotor induce a flow of air over the rotor by displacing the boundary layer of gases from the rotor surface and conducting such layer along the intercepting surface of the vane, and thus inducing a flow of cooler air over the rotor. Under heavy braking, friction pad particles and substantial quantities of thermal energy in the superheated gases of the boundary layer are removed by the vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Ingalls Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas W. O'Rourke
  • Publication number: 20030208611
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for on-chip inter-network performance optimization using configurable performance parameters have been described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2002
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Applicant: Sonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Wolf-Dietrich Weber, Chien-Chun Chou, Nabil N. Masri, Michael J. Meyer, Thomas W. O'Connell, Kamil Synek, Jay S. Tomlinson, Drew E. Wingard
  • Publication number: 20030208566
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for composing on-chip interconnects with configurable interfaces have been described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2002
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Applicant: Sonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Wolf-Dietrich Weber, Chien-Chun Chou, Nabil N. Masri, Michael J. Meyer, Thomas W. O'Connell, Kamil Synek, Jay S. Tomlinson, Drew E. Wingard
  • Publication number: 20030208553
    Abstract: A communication system and method with configurable posting points have been described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2002
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Applicant: Sonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Drew E. Wingard, Chien-Chun Chou, Nabil N. Masri, Thomas W. O'Connell, Jay S. Tomlinson, Wolf-Dietrich Weber
  • Publication number: 20020082386
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to diagnostic tools and therapies using antibodies to Bacillus anthracis. Specifically, the present invention is directed to a B. anthracis-specific monoclonal antibody that binds to the EA1 antigen (corresponding to the eag gene) of the S-layer (surface layer) of spores. This monoclonal antibody may be used in a variety of applications, including to specifically detect and diagnose B. anthracis. Preferably, antibodies are monoclonal and bind to a surface protein, such as EA1 protein, on the spores of B. anthracis, and not to spores of either B. cereus or B. thuringiensis. Antibodies can be incorporated into detection kits using, for example, colloidal particle based lateral flow detection system. Such detection kits can distinguish anthrax spores from non-pathogenic varieties of spores. In addition, the invention is directed to B.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2001
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventors: Beverly Lynn Mangold, Jennifer Lynn Aldrich, Thomas W. O'Brien
  • Patent number: 5374175
    Abstract: An apparatus in which toner fines are recovered from a recirculating liquid transporting toner pellets cut from extruded toner. The recirculating liquid cleans the pellet cutter and forms a mixture of liquid and toner fines. The recovery unit is positioned between the pellet cutter and a station discharging the pellets. In this way, clean liquid flows into the pellet cutter during each cycle. The recovery unit has a housing defining a chamber having two sections. A sloping screen is located in the chamber covering one of the chamber sections. The mixture of toner fines and liquid is dispensed onto the screen. The liquid passes through the screen and is recirculated. Toner fines collect on the screen. A backwash system washes the toner fines from the screen into the other section of the chamber. The mixture of toner fines and liquid is pumped from the other chamber section into a separator. The toner fines are separated from the liquid and re-used in the extruder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Bortfeldt, John R. Farkas, Jeffery Q. Hammond, Thomas W. O'Connor, Valentin Sukhenko, Mit G. Turakhia
  • Patent number: 5174455
    Abstract: A coarse particle separator for separating and collecting coarse toner particles having a size greater than substantially 500 microns comprises a tank having an inlet and an outlet, the separation being performed within the tank. The inlet to the tank is located at a lower portion of the tank and is connected to an eductor station by an eductor line. Particles are introduced to the inlet by the eductor line at a velocity of approximately 4500 ft/min. The separation of coarse and light toner particles can be performed by reducing the flow velocity so the coarse particles settle out by their own weight. A flow baffle made of a 75 micron screen hinders the passage of coarse particles. The outlet outputs light toner particles to at least one toner storage bin. Alternatively, the tank can have a conical-shaped upper portion which induces a cyclone effect in the flow of toner particles, the cyclone effect resulting in the collection of coarse particles in the lower portion of the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph S. Zelazny, Lewis S. Smith, Thomas W. O'Connor
  • Patent number: 4420272
    Abstract: A bushing formed of an outer body and an inner sleeve member adapted to rotate within the outer body, the outer body having a bore adapted to rotatably receive the inner sleeve member such bore being eccentric, i.e. offset and/or skewed, relative to the axis around which the outer surface of the outer body is generated, and the inner end member having a usually tapered bore similarly eccentric to the axis of the outer surface of the inner sleeve member such that the inner member may be rotated relative to the outer body with the eccentricity of the bore of the outer body and the bore of the inner member either being additive or cancelling such that the effective eccentricity of the inner bore may be adjusted to the outer surface of the outer body to provide, for instance, caster and camber compensating bushings for vehicles, and other similar eccentric bushing uses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1983
    Inventors: William E. Ingalls, Thomas W. O'Rourke