Patents by Inventor Virgil Macaluso
Virgil Macaluso 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).
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Patent number: 10695316Abstract: The present invention includes a method of drying Cannabis plant material generally comprising exposing the Cannabis plant material to infrared radiation emitted from an infrared heater, such as a catalytic gas heater, the radiation having a wavelength of from about 3 to about 10 microns; and heating the Cannabis plant material to a temperature of from about 100° F. to about 400° F.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2019Date of Patent: June 30, 2020Assignees: Catalytic Industrial Group, Inc.Inventors: Virgil Macaluso, Corey Lowdon, Shih-Shin Chou
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Publication number: 20200009109Abstract: The present invention includes a method of drying Cannabis plant material generally comprising exposing the Cannabis plant material to infrared radiation emitted from an infrared heater, such as a catalytic gas heater, the radiation having a wavelength of from about 3 to about 10 microns; and heating the Cannabis plant material to a temperature of from about 100° F. to about 400° F.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2019Publication date: January 9, 2020Inventors: Virgil Macaluso, Corey Lowdon, Shih-Shin Chou
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Publication number: 20160245446Abstract: A pipeline heater (20) for warming a fluid stream, such as a fluid being carried by a natural gas or petroleum pipeline includes a housing (22) having a plurality of IR heating elements (118) and coils (110) installed therein. Individual conduits (88, 90) direct the fluid stream into and out of the housing (22). Coils (110) direct portions of the fluid stream from the conduits (88, 90) past a plurality of IR heating elements (118).Type: ApplicationFiled: February 24, 2016Publication date: August 25, 2016Inventors: Virgil Macaluso, Corey Lowdon, Bruce Brooks
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Patent number: 9222619Abstract: Methods and apparatus for offloading CNG from high-pressure storage vessels (22) are provided. The methods and apparatus are operable to warm the offloaded CNG either before or after a letdown in pressure to ensure that the delivered product is gaseous and that delivery of condensed products to downstream equipment is avoided. Particularly, a heating assembly (32) configured to warm a stream offloaded from a vessel (22) and flowing through a coil-shaped conduit (84) by infrared energy emitted by one or more heating elements (70) is provided upstream or downstream of a pressure reduction device (50).Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2015Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Inventors: Virgil Macaluso, Corey Lowdon
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Publication number: 20150233528Abstract: Methods and apparatus for offloading CNG from high-pressure storage vessels (22) are provided. The methods and apparatus are operable to warm the offloaded CNG either before or after a letdown in pressure to ensure that the delivered product is gaseous and that delivery of condensed products to downstream equipment is avoided. Particularly, a heating assembly (32) configured to warm a stream offloaded from a vessel (22) and flowing through a coil-shaped conduit (84) by infrared energy emitted by one or more heating elements (70) is provided upstream or downstream of a pressure reduction device (50).Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2015Publication date: August 20, 2015Inventors: Virgil Macaluso, Corey Lowdon
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Patent number: 9046218Abstract: Methods and apparatus for offloading CNG from high-pressure storage vessels (22) are provided. The methods and apparatus are operable to warm the offloaded CNG either before or after a letdown in pressure to ensure that the delivered product is gaseous and that delivery of condensed products to downstream equipment is avoided. Particularly, a heating assembly (32) configured to warm a stream offloaded from a vessel (22) and flowing through a coil-shaped conduit (84) by infrared energy emitted by one or more heating elements (70) is provided upstream or downstream of a pressure reduction device (50).Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2014Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Inventors: Virgil Macaluso, Corey Lowdon
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Publication number: 20150020918Abstract: Methods and apparatus for offloading CNG from high-pressure storage vessels (22) are provided. The methods and apparatus are operable to warm the offloaded CNG either before or after a letdown in pressure to ensure that the delivered product is gaseous and that delivery of condensed products to downstream equipment is avoided. Particularly, a heating assembly (32) configured to warm a stream offloaded from a vessel (22) and flowing through a coil-shaped conduit (84) by infrared energy emitted by one or more heating elements (70) is provided upstream or downstream of a pressure reduction device (50).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2014Publication date: January 22, 2015Inventors: Virgil Macaluso, Corey Lowdon
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Patent number: 7849788Abstract: A method of infrared heat-processing of nuts (e.g., almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, walnuts and mixtures thereof in order to reduce the microorganism level thereof is provided wherein the nuts are sequentially moisturized by application of water and then subjected to infrared radiation, preferably through a series of treatment cycles. Nut treatment apparatus (10) includes opposed banks of infrared heaters (38, 40), with plural water application stations (48, 50, 52) along the length of the heater banks (38, 40).Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2007Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Inventor: Virgil Macaluso
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Publication number: 20070190218Abstract: A method of infrared heat-processing of nuts (e.g., almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, walnuts and mixtures thereof in order to reduce the microorganism level thereofis provided wherein thenuts are sequentially moisturized by application of water and then subjected to infrared radiation, preferably through a series of treatment cycles. Nut treatment apparatus (10) includes opposed banks of infrared heaters (38,40), with plural water application stations (48,50,52) along the length of the heater banks (38,40).Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2007Publication date: August 16, 2007Inventor: Virgil Macaluso
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Patent number: 7238381Abstract: A method of infrared heat-processing of nuts (e.g., almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, walnuts and mixtures thereof) in order to reduce the microorganism level thereof is provided wherein the nuts are sequentially moisturized by application of water and then subjected to infrared radiation, preferably through a series of treatment cycles. Nut treatment apparatus (10) includes opposed banks of infrared heaters (38,40), with plural water application stations (48,50,52) along the length of the heater banks (38,40).Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2006Date of Patent: July 3, 2007Inventor: Virgil Macaluso
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Publication number: 20060246203Abstract: A method of infrared heat-processing of nuts (e.g., almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, walnuts and mixtures thereof) in order to reduce the microorganism level thereof is provided wherein the nuts are sequentially moisturized by application of water and then subjected to infrared radiation, preferably through a series of treatment cycles. Nut treatment apparatus (10) includes opposed banks of infrared heaters (38,40), with plural water application stations (48,50,52) along the length of the heater banks (38,40).Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2005Publication date: November 2, 2006Inventor: Virgil Macaluso
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Publication number: 20060246204Abstract: A method of infrared heat-processing of nuts (e.g., almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamias, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios, walnuts and mixtures thereof) in order to reduce the microorganism level thereof is provided wherein the nuts are sequentially moisturized by application of water and then subjected to infrared radiation, preferably through a series of treatment cycles. Nut treatment apparatus (10) includes opposed banks of infrared heaters (38,40), with plural water application stations (48,50,52) along the length of the heater banks (38,40).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2006Publication date: November 2, 2006Inventor: Virgil Macaluso
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Patent number: 7066730Abstract: A pipeline heater comprising a plurality of flameless catalytic IR emitters positioned about a section of pipe in a substantially diamond-shaped configuration, the diameter of the pipe section being greater than the diameters of the heater inlet and outlet manifolds in order to increase the residence time of the fluid within the heater. The pipeline heater may comprise a single or multiple passes of the pipe section therethrough, each pass having a plurality of catalytic emitters positioned thereabout in a substantially diamond-shaped configuration.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2004Date of Patent: June 27, 2006Assignee: Catalytic Industrial Group, Inc.Inventor: Virgil Macaluso
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Publication number: 20060105283Abstract: A pipeline heater comprising a plurality of flameless catalytic IR emitters positioned about a section of pipe in a substantially diamond-shaped configuration, the diameter of the pipe section being greater than the diameters of the heater inlet and outlet manifolds in order to increase the residence time of the fluid within the heater. The pipeline heater may comprise a single or multiple passes of the pipe section therethrough, each pass having a plurality of catalytic emitters positioned thereabout in a substantially diamond-shaped configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2004Publication date: May 18, 2006Inventor: Virgil Macaluso
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Patent number: 5557858Abstract: An infrared wood product dryer apparatus (10) constructed in accordance with the invention broadly includes enclosure structure (12) defining an interior (20), a conveyor assembly (14) configured for conveying a particulate material along a material flow path through the interior (20) substantially between an inlet (22) and an outlet (24), an array of infrared radiant energy sources (22) configured for exposing the material to infrared radiant energy while it is conveyed along the path (38), and a series of agitators (18) configured for agitating the material in order to increase the exposure of the material to the infrared radiant energy. A gas recirculation assembly (52) is provided to direct a heated interior gas onto the material in order to convection-dry the material. An exhaust assembly (62) reduces the moisture content of the interior gas by drawing a quantity of the gas from the dryer (10) so that fresh gas having a lower moisture content may be drawn into the dryer (10).Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 1995Date of Patent: September 24, 1996Assignee: Catalytic Industrial Group Inc.Inventors: Virgil Macaluso, Abdel-Jaber A. Hamad, Dewey Marshall