Patents by Inventor Thomas Waters

Thomas Waters 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: 20240140885
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for obtaining isobutene from an isobutene containing C4-hydrocarbon mixture (1) in a plant comprising an etherification unit (3), a first distillation unit (5), an ether cleavage unit (8) and a second distillation unit (10), the process comprising: (a) contacting the C4-hydrocarbon mixture (1) with a primary alcohol (2) and reacting the mixture with the primary alcohol in the presence of an acidic catalyst to form the corresponding alkyl tert-butyl ether as an intermediate product and diisobutene as a by-product in the etherification unit (3); (b) distilling the reaction mixture (4) from the etherification unit (3) in the first distillation unit (5), a C4-hydrocarbon raffinate being withdrawn as the overhead product (6), the alkyl tert-butyl ether and diisobutene being withdrawn as the liquid or vaporous bottom product (7), and vaporizing the bottom product (7) if it is withdrawn as a liquid; (c) reacting the vaporous bottom product (7) in the presence of an acidic catalyst
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: Hans-Guenter WAGNER, Randolph HUGO, Thomas ROUSSIERE, Suman THOTLA, Gerrit WATERS, Michael HUEBNER, Markus NEUDERT
  • Publication number: 20240140887
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for starting up a plant for removing isobutene from an isobutene-containing C4-hydrocarbon mixture, the plant comprising an etherification unit containing moist acidic ion exchange resin, a first distillation unit, an ether cleavage unit, and a second distillation unit. The invention further relates to a process for shutting down the plant from a stationary operation mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: Hans-Guenter WAGNER, Suman THOTLA, Gerrit WATERS, Michael HUEBNER, Markus NEUDERT, Randolph HUGO, Thomas ROUSSIERE
  • Patent number: 10495623
    Abstract: A gas analysis system for analyzing dissolved gas in electrical insulating fluid includes a trap that selectively captures or releases one or more gases, a temperature control device for controlling a temperature of the trap that determining whether the trap is in a gas capture mode or a gas release mode, and a gas sensor for analyzing the gas that was not selectively captured by the trap. The trap may be heated to a first temperature that enables the gas to be adsorbed by the trap, and the trap may be heated to a second temperature that enables the gas to be desorbed by the trap. The gas analysis system may further include a gas flow diverter for directing gas flow past the trap. The captured or released gases may be interfering matrix gases. A method and analyzer for analyzing dissolved gas in an electrical insulating fluid are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Serveron Corporation
    Inventors: John Hinshaw, Steven Mahoney, Thomas Waters
  • Patent number: 10119954
    Abstract: A gas monitoring apparatus and system that provides for reliable and accurate monitoring of gaseous hydrogen and other compounds in dielectric oil. The apparatus provides an environment for and is used in conjunction with metal oxide semiconductor sensors. Thermal conditioning zones for oil provide an environment in which variations in oil temperature and ambient temperature are eliminated to insure that analytical data are not affected by these environmental conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Serveron Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Mahoney, Thomas Waters
  • Publication number: 20180088101
    Abstract: A gas analysis system for analyzing dissolved gas in electrical insulating fluid includes a trap that selectively captures or releases one or more gases, a temperature control device for controlling a temperature of the trap that determining whether the trap is in a gas capture mode or a gas release mode, and a gas sensor for analyzing the gas that was not selectively captured by the trap. The trap may be heated to a first temperature that enables the gas to be adsorbed by the trap, and the trap may be heated to a second temperature that enables the gas to be desorbed by the trap. The gas analysis system may further include a gas flow diverter for directing gas flow past the trap. The captured or released gases may be interfering matrix gases. A method and analyzer for analyzing dissolved gas in an electrical insulating fluid are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2016
    Publication date: March 29, 2018
    Inventors: John Hinshaw, Steven Mahoney, Thomas Waters
  • Publication number: 20170088391
    Abstract: A fibre splicer (1) is disclosed that includes a splicing chamber (2) for receiving fibres to be spliced having an opening of in a side thereof, a chamber pad (3) for selectively sealing the opening of the splicing chamber (2) and a valve (9). The valve (9) has an unobstructed fluid pathway there-through, the valve (9) extending from the chamber (2) and being reconfigurable between a first configuration prohibiting fluid flow along the pathway and a second configuration permitting fluid flow along the pathway.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2015
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventor: Graham Thomas Waters
  • Publication number: 20160116451
    Abstract: A gas monitoring apparatus and system that provides for reliable and accurate monitoring of gaseous hydrogen and other compounds in dielectric oil. The apparatus provides an environment for and is used in conjunction with metal oxide semiconductor sensors. Thermal conditioning zones for oil provide an environment in which variations in oil temperature and ambient temperature are eliminated to insure that analytical data are not affected by these environmental conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2015
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Applicant: Serveron Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Mahoney, Thomas Waters
  • Patent number: 9239322
    Abstract: A gas monitoring apparatus and system that provides for reliable and accurate monitoring of gaseous hydrogen and other compounds in dielectric oil. The apparatus provides an environment for and is used in conjunction with metal oxide semiconductor sensors. Thermal conditioning zones for oil provide an environment in which variations in oil temperature and ambient temperature are eliminated to insure that analytical data are not affected by these environmental conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Serveron Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Mahoney, Thomas Waters
  • Patent number: 8972580
    Abstract: This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus to protect users of the Internet from DNS outages. In particular, an outage avoidance system is provided that includes query processing, outage avoidance processing, and a local cache, all configured to extend the TTL of expired answers to DNS queries or to ignore the expiration of an answer's TTL value, and thereby provide the expired answer in response to a client request when a DNS server is unable to obtain an answer from a remote DNS server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Xerocole, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Fleischman, William Thomas Waters, Robert Alton Wyatt
  • Publication number: 20140244725
    Abstract: This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus to protect users of the Internet from DNS outages. In particular, an outage avoidance system is provided that includes query processing, outage avoidance processing, and a local cache, all configured to extend the TTL of expired answers to DNS queries or to ignore the expiration of an answer's TTL value, and thereby provide the expired answer in response to a client request when a DNS server is unable to obtain an answer from a remote DNS server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: Xerocole, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Fleischman, William Thomas Waters, Robert Alton Wyatt
  • Patent number: 8796888
    Abstract: The present disclosure sets forth a power management system including a plurality of power management devices configured to transfer power among a plurality of external devices. The power management system includes a first power management device and a second power management device. The first power management device includes a first, second and third communication ports along with first, second and third power ports. The second power management device includes fourth, fifth and sixth communications port along with fourth, fifth and sixth power ports. The first power port of the first power management device is coupled to the fourth power port of the second power management device such that first and second power and the first communications port of the first power management device is coupled to the fourth communications port of the second power management device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Adaptive Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Rice, Thomas Waters, Jason Krajcovic
  • Patent number: 8583806
    Abstract: This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus for sharing DNS answers between DNS server systems within a DNS cluster, between proxy servers, and/or between DNS server systems of different DNS clusters. When a DNS answer is obtained by a DNS server system, the answer can be shared with peer DNS server systems within a same DNS cluster or with DNS server systems having a logical relation to the first DNS server system (e.g., geographic relationship), but being in different DNS clusters. Proxy servers may also mediate communication between a client and the DNS clusters. These proxies can also include the ability to share DNS answers between each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Xerocole, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Fleischman, William Thomas Waters, Robert Alton Wyatt
  • Patent number: 8583801
    Abstract: This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus to protect users of the Internet from DNS outages. In particular, an outage avoidance system is provided that includes query processing, outage avoidance processing, and a local cache, all configured to extend the TTL of expired answers to DNS queries or to ignore the expiration of an answer's TTL value, and thereby provide the expired answer in response to a client request when a DNS server is unable to obtain an answer from a remote DNS server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Xerocole, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Fleischman, William Thomas Waters, Robert Alton Wyatt
  • Publication number: 20130290563
    Abstract: This disclosure describes systems, methods, and apparatus for forward and reverse DNS translation of IPv6 IP addresses. For a PTR request where the authoritative DNS server does not have a domain name associated with the IP address in the request, a DNS answer augmentation system can generate an IP address on the fly using one or more algorithms that take information about the request as an input. Similarly, for an AAAA request where the authoritative DNS server does not have an IP address associated with the domain name in the request, the DNS answer augmentation system can generate a domain name on-the-fly using one or more algorithms that take information about the request as an input. The DNS answer augmentation system can reside between a client or a DNS server and an authoritative DNS server or be a part of the authoritative DNS server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Robert M. Fleischman, William Thomas Waters, Robert Alton Wyatt
  • Publication number: 20130247647
    Abstract: A gas monitoring apparatus and system that provides for reliable and accurate monitoring of gaseous hydrogen and other compounds in dielectric oil. The apparatus provides an environment for and is used in conjunction with metal oxide semiconductor sensors. Thermal conditioning zones for oil provide an environment in which variations in oil temperature and ambient temperature are eliminated to insure that analytical data are not affected by these environmental conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: BPL Global, Ltd.
    Inventors: Steven Mahoney, Thomas Waters
  • Patent number: 8430135
    Abstract: A dispensing apparatus is provided having a platform for receipt of a container such as a wine glass. The platform is connected to a transducer which is sensitive to weight on the platform and which produces an electrical signal dependant on the magnitude of that weight. Electrical outputs from the transducer are connected to a control unit over connections. The control unit includes a keypad and a display. Control signals from control unit are supplied over electrical connections to a solenoid valve. The control unit controls the flow of material by opening and closing solenoid valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Autopour Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Marshall Thomas Waters
  • Patent number: 8142547
    Abstract: A method for extraction of gas from liquid provides for reliable and accurate extraction of gases dissolved in fluids and routing the extracted gas to an analytical instrument. An extraction module comprises one or more fluorosilicone membranes molded into the shape of a flattened disk. The membranes are retained in a housing in a spaced apart relationship. The membrane is permeable to target gas(es), but not to the fluid. Porous support members support the membranes and prevent damage to them and the housing defines separate fluid flow paths for the fluid and the gas extracted from it. Fluid is passed over the membrane in a first fluid phase; target compounds in the fluid diffuse across the membrane to a second fluid phase until equilibrium is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Serveron Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Mahoney, Thomas Waters
  • Publication number: 20120055332
    Abstract: A method for extraction of gas from liquid provides for reliable and accurate extraction of gases dissolved in fluids and routing the extracted gas to an analytical instrument. An extraction module comprises one or more fluorosilicone membranes molded into the shape of a flattened disk. The membranes are retained in a housing in a spaced apart relationship. The membrane is permeable to target gas(es), but not to the fluid. Porous support members support the membranes and prevent damage to them and the housing defines separate fluid flow paths for the fluid and the gas extracted from it. Fluid is passed over the membrane in a first fluid phase; target compounds in the fluid diffuse across the membrane to a second fluid phase until equilibrium is achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: SERVERON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven Mahoney, Thomas Waters
  • Publication number: 20120007432
    Abstract: The present disclosure sets forth a power management system including a plurality of power management devices configured to transfer power among a plurality of external devices. The power management system includes a first power management device and a second power management device. The first power management device includes a first, second and third communication ports along with first, second and third power ports. The second power management device includes fourth, fifth and sixth communications port along with fourth, fifth and sixth power ports. The first power port of the first power management device is coupled to the fourth power port of the second power management device such that first and second power and the first communications port of the first power management device is coupled to the fourth communications port of the second power management device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: ADAPTIVE MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Jonathan Rice, Thomas Waters, Jason Krajcovic
  • Patent number: 8075675
    Abstract: A gas extraction apparatus provides for reliable and accurate extraction of gases dissolved in fluids and routing the extracted gas to an analytical instrument. An extraction module comprises one or more fluorosilicone membranes molded into the shape of a flattened disk. The membranes are retained in a housing in a spaced apart relationship. The membrane is permeable to target gas(es), but not to the fluid. Porous support members support the membranes and prevent damage to them and the housing defines separate fluid flow paths for the fluid and the gas extracted from it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Serveron Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Mahoney, Thomas Waters