Patents by Inventor Todd S. Grace

Todd S. Grace 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: 20090183632
    Abstract: A scrubber removes matter (e.g., particulate, gaseous, or liquid) from a gas stream in order to recover the matter and/or to clean the gas. In particular aspects, the scrubber contains multiple venturis that may provide additional flexibility and increased efficiency. The invention also pertains to related methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Publication date: July 23, 2009
    Applicant: ANDRITZ INC.
    Inventors: Kimmo Peltonen, Todd S. Grace
  • Publication number: 20080257506
    Abstract: A rotary drum filter has a plurality of longitudinally extending division grids mounted about the outer circumference of a drum. A plurality of corrugated sheets are provided, with the leading and trailing edges of each sheet mounted to circumferentially adjacent pairs of division grids to define filtrate compartments. An equivalent number of perforated filter plates are also provided. Each filter plate is attached to the top of a corrugated sheet and has a leading edge and a trailing edge that are set back from the leading edge and trailing edge of the corrugated sheet. A seal clip is positioned near the leading edge of each corrugated sheet. A seal member or seal members is/are held in place by the seal clip and is/are positioned at the face of the leading edge of each corrugated sheet or beneath and near the face or each corrugated sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Publication date: October 23, 2008
    Applicant: ANDRITZ INC.,
    Inventors: Todd S. Grace, Joseph A. Gottberg
  • Publication number: 20080156747
    Abstract: A vacuum drum washer including: a cylindrical drum including a screen and deck defining an exterior cylindrical surface; a plurality of outer filtrate channels disposed inward of the screen, the outer filtrate channels extending along a longitudinal axis of the drum and substantially an entire length of the drum; an radial array of filtrate end conduits extending radially inward from the outer filtrate channels towards a rotational axis of the drum, the radial filtrate conduits have an inlet positioned at a first end of the drum and draining filtrate from the outer filtrate channels; a filtrate chamber at the first end of the drum and receiving filtrate discharged from the end conduits, and an array of radial filtrate drainage conduits coupled to receive filtrate from the filtrate channels, the drainage conduits each having an inlet proximate to the filtrate channels, the inlets are arranged between a center of the drum and a second end of the drum, and the radial drainage conduits directing filtrate to the f
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Publication date: July 3, 2008
    Applicant: ANDRITZ INC.
    Inventor: Todd S. Grace
  • Patent number: 7374050
    Abstract: A rotary drum filter has a plurality of longitudinally extending division grids mounted about the outer circumference of a drum. A plurality of corrugated sheets are provided, with the leading and trailing edges of each sheet mounted to circumferentially adjacent pairs of division grids to define filtrate compartments. An equivalent number of perforated filter plates are also provided. Each filter plate is attached to the top of a corrugated sheet and has a leading edge and a trailing edge that are set back from the leading edge and trailing edge of the corrugated sheet. A seal clip is positioned near the leading edge of each corrugated sheet. A seal member or seal members is/are held in place by the seal clip and is/are positioned at the face of the leading edge of each corrugated sheet or beneath and near the face or each corrugated sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Andritz Inc.
    Inventors: Todd S. Grace, Joseph A. Gottberg
  • Publication number: 20080087391
    Abstract: In a rotary drum for condensing pulp from a pulp slurry vat, the drum including radial conduits delivering filtrate from a pulp mat on an outer surface of the drum to at least one filtrate conduit coaxial with a drum rotational axis, a valve segment in the filtrate conduit including: an outer surface juxtaposed against drainage outlets of the radial conduits as the conduits pass through an angular range extending from an upper drum position to an immersed in a vat position, wherein the valve segment does not block the drainage outlets during a majority of the rotation of the drum; at least one inlet aperture on the outer surface aligned with the drainage outlets, said inlet aperture extending at least a majority of a width of the valve segment, and a closed passage extending from the inlet aperture to a gas vent external to the filtrate conduit, wherein the closed passage is offset from and below a centerline of the filtrate conduit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Applicant: ANDRITZ INC.
    Inventor: Todd S. Grace
  • Patent number: 7347916
    Abstract: A vacuum drum washer is designed to enable the use of an end-draining drum for drum lengths exceeding 20 feet. The drum washer includes a cylindrical drum having a mesh screen defining an exterior wall. A plurality of outer filtrate channels are disposed radially inward from the mesh screen. A plurality of inner filtrate channels are disposed radially inward from the outer filtrate channels and extend along generally less than an entire length of the drum. A transfer channel connects the outer filtrate channels and the inner filtrate channels. A plurality of radial drainage chutes are disposed adjacent a head end of the outer and inner filtrate channels, which direct the filtrate to a drain valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Andritz Inc.
    Inventor: Todd S. Grace
  • Patent number: 7293659
    Abstract: A drum structure for corrugated type rotary filters has relatively high filtering efficiency and relatively low manufacturing and/or installation costs. More specifically, a corrugated deck section is rigidly connected to a rotary drum structure by means of solid non-apertured divider grids which establish a drain channel. The drain channel is subdivided into respective compartments by means of intermediate solid non-apertured grids which are unconnected to the corrugated deck, but provide subjacent radial support thereto. Drainage slits are provided in the corrugated deck in alignment with each of the compartments. Plug dams are provided in the corrugation spaces between the upper edge of the intermediate grids and the lower corrugated deck surface so as to prevent substantially filtrate flow between individual compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Andritz Inc.
    Inventor: Todd S. Grace
  • Publication number: 20070163630
    Abstract: A nozzle assembly for spraying a wash liquid towards a pulp mat, the assembly including an integral fastener-nozzle having a conduit for the wash liquid, an outlet to the conduit for discharging the wash liquid and an attachment to secure the fastener-nozzle to an aperture in a wash liquid pipe, and a wash liquid direction device extending outwardly from the pipe and adapted to direct the wash liquid from the outlet towards the pulp mat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Applicant: ANDRITZ INC
    Inventors: Todd S. Grace, David Hollis Gordy, David Brin Tidwell
  • Patent number: 6375795
    Abstract: The release of malodorous TRS-containing gases from a comminuted cellulosic fibrous material feed system for a digester is minimized utilizing a particular arrangement associated with a pressure isolation device. Material is fed through the pressure isolation device and the pressure of the material increases from the inlet to the outlet, and the material is discharged from the pressure isolation device into a treatment vessel, such as a horizontal steaming vessel. Malodorous gases from the pressure isolation device are discharged substantially independently of the material discharged from the isolation device, and at least some of the malodorous gases discharged from the pressure isolation device are pressurized (e.g. in an eductor or thermocompressor) and reintroduced into the flow of cellulosic material downstream of the pressure isolation device (for example into the horizontal steaming vessel or a vessel downstream of it).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Andritz-Ahlstrom Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Lebel, Todd S. Grace
  • Patent number: 6284095
    Abstract: The release of malodorous TRS-containing gases from a comminuted cellulosic fibrous material feed system for a digester is minimized utilizing a particular arrangement associated with a pressure isolation device. Material is fed through the pressure isolation device and the pressure of the material increases from the inlet to the outlet, and the material is discharged from the pressure isolation device into a treatment vessel, such as a horizontal steaming vessel. Malodorous gases from the pressure isolation device are discharged substantially independently of the material discharged from the isolation device, and at least some of the malodorous gases discharged from the pressure isolation device are pressurized (e.g. in an eductor or thermocompressor) and reintroduced into the flow of cellulosic material downstream of the pressure isolation device (for example into the horizontal steaming vessel or a vessel downstream of it).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Andritz-Ahlstrom Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Lebel, Todd S. Grace
  • Publication number: 20010008177
    Abstract: The release of malodorous TRS-containing gases from a comminuted cellulosic fibrous material feed system for a digester is minimized utilizing a particular arrangement associated with a pressure isolation device. Material is fed through the pressure isolation device and the pressure of the material increases from the inlet to the outlet, and the material is discharged from the pressure isolation device into a treatment vessel, such as a horizontal steaming vessel. Malodorous gases from the pressure isolation device are discharged substantially independently of the material discharged from the isolation device, and at least some of the malodorous gases discharged from the pressure isolation device are pressurized (e.g. in an eductor or thermocompressor) and reintroduced into the flow of cellulosic material downstream of the pressure isolation device (for example into the horizontal steaming vessel or a vessel downstream of it).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Publication date: July 19, 2001
    Applicant: ANDRITZ-AHLSTROM INC.
    Inventors: David J. Lebel, Todd S. Grace
  • Patent number: 5338366
    Abstract: Biomass, such as bagasse, is pre-hydrolyzed, to ultimately effect hydrolysis of hemicellulose to sugars. Biomass is mixed with a mineral acid solution to form a slurry having a consistency of about 8 to 12% so that the acid solution properly wets the biomass. Then the slurry is dewatered to about 35 to 50% consistency, and is heated to reaction temperature (e. g. about 320.degree. F.) by direct contact with steam in the vapor phase of a vertical pressurized reactor, having a pressure of about 40 psig. A fluffer is preferably provided in the top of the reaction vessel. After a reaction time of about 30 minutes, the biomass is diluted and cold blown out of the bottom of the reactor. Pressate from the dewatering has acid added to it and is heated by indirect heat exchange with a sugar solution obtained by washing of the biomass discharged from the reactor, and is then mixed with the biomass as the acid solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Kamyr, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd S. Grace, Mark D. Barrett, Vic L. Bilodeau, Gary L. McCarty, Brian F. Greenwood, J. Robert Prough, Louis O. Torregrossa