Patents by Inventor Wade Stevens

Wade Stevens 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: 20240139649
    Abstract: Devices, systems, and techniques can be provided for processing an oil-containing material with an alcohol-based solvent to extract oil from the material. In some examples, a system includes an extractor configured to process an oil-containing feedstock. The extractor receives the oil-containing feedstock and conveys the material from an inlet to an outlet through the extractor. The extractor also receives an alcohol-based solvent at a solvent inlet and conveys the solvent through the extractor to a solvent outlet. The alcohol-based solvent may be ethanol. A concentration of oil in the feedstock may decrease as the feedstock moves through the extractor from the inlet to the outlet while the concentration of the oil in the solvent increases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2022
    Publication date: May 2, 2024
    Inventors: Wade Steven Martinson, Benjamin Wayne Floan, Nicholas Ollila, Jeff Garritsen, Austin Nelson
  • Patent number: 11925943
    Abstract: A method of separating a shell from a seed may involve introducing a feed stream containing shells of a fruit intermixed with seeds of the fruit into a separation column at a feed stream location. The method may also involve introducing a first volume of a separation liquid into the separation column at a first liquid addition location located below the feed stream location and a second volume of the separation liquid into the separation column at a second liquid addition location located above feed stream location. The separation liquid may flow upwardly in the separation column at a rate effective to cause the seeds of the fruit to flow upwardly with the separation liquid toward a seed outlet of the separation column while the shells of the fruit flow downwardly against the upwardly flowing separation liquid toward a shell outlet of the separation column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: CROWN IRON WORKS COMPANY
    Inventor: Wade Steven Martinson
  • Publication number: 20240066431
    Abstract: Systems and techniques can be used to extract solid material with an alcohol-based solvent. To subsequently recover the solvent after extraction, the solvent-wet solid material having undergone extraction can be desolventized. The solvent-wet solid material may be desolventized in multiple stages, either in a single vessel or in multiple different vessels, to generate multiple corresponding condensate streams containing alcohol and water vaporized from the solvent-wet solid material. By splitting desolventization into multiple stages, the composition of the condensate streams generated during desolventization can be individually controlled to benefit downstream processing. For example, the first condensate stream produced during desolventization may have a comparatively low amount of water whereas a second condensate stream produced during desolventization may have a comparatively high amount of water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: Nicholas Ollila, Wade Steven Martinson, Benjamin Wayne Floan, Aaron Iwen
  • Publication number: 20230242835
    Abstract: An oil extraction process may be performed on an oleaginous feedstock using an alcohol-based solvent, such as ethanol. In some examples, an extraction process involves conveying a material in countercurrent direction with an alcohol-based solvent to generate an extracted material and a miscella. The miscella stream is cooled (14) to form a first solvent-rich layer phase separated from a first oil-rich layer, which is then separated (18) to form a first separated oil-rich stream (100) and a first separated solvent-rich stream (102). In some examples, the first separated solvent-rich stream is recycled back to the extractor and introduced into the extractor at a location (38) different than a location (30) where fresh solvent is introduced into the extractor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Wade Steven Martinson, Benjamin Wayne Floan, Nicholas Ollila, Jeff Garritsen, Austin Nelson
  • Publication number: 20230149943
    Abstract: A method of separating a shell from a seed may involve introducing a feed stream containing shells of a fruit intermixed with seeds of the fruit into a separation column at a feed stream location. The method may also involve introducing a first volume of a separation liquid into the separation column at a first liquid addition location located below the feed stream location and a second volume of the separation liquid into the separation column at a second liquid addition location located above feed stream location. The separation liquid may flow upwardly in the separation column at a rate effective to cause the seeds of the fruit to flow upwardly with the separation liquid toward a seed outlet of the separation column while the shells of the fruit flow downwardly against the upwardly flowing separation liquid toward a shell outlet of the separation column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventor: Wade Steven Martinson
  • Publication number: 20210346818
    Abstract: A fractionation column can be used to separate a liquid containing multiple components into its constituent components based on vapor pressure. While the fractionation column may be designed for certain operational performance, the operational characteristics may change, for example, due to changed flow rates through the column and/or fouling in the column. In some examples, a fractionation column is described that includes a fractionation tray formed of multiple tray decks that move relative to each other. The tray decks can have apertures that move relative to each other between a position in which there is a comparatively large amount of open area through the fractionation tray to a position in which there is a comparatively small amount of open area through the fractionation tray. Movement of the trays can control turndown and/or clear fouling buildup on the tray surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2019
    Publication date: November 11, 2021
    Inventors: Stephen Wayne Brewer, Benjamin Wayne Floan, Wade Steven Martinson
  • Patent number: 8649942
    Abstract: An engine speed sensor determines engine speed data of an internal combustion engine for moving a material distribution vehicle. A ground speed sensor measures a ground speed of the material distribution vehicle. A data processor for controlling a dispensation system to distribute an agricultural input or material at a rate based on the measured ground speed and the engine speed data (e.g., sensed engine speed or change in engine speed) to anticipate a change in the ground speed of the material dispensation vehicle such that a lag in the rate of agricultural input delivered is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Wade Steven Mitchell
  • Patent number: 8577558
    Abstract: A system and method for steering an implement comprises a steering detector for detecting a target steering angle associated with an implement steering system. An implement mode detector is capable of determining whether or not the implement is acting in a lowered mode of operation in which a ground-engaging component other than one or more wheels engage the ground. An implement steering controller is arranged to adjust the target steering angle by reducing or by limiting the target steering angle to a maximum steering angle if the implement is in the lowered mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Wade Steven Mitchell
  • Patent number: 8352130
    Abstract: An engine speed sensor determines engine speed data of an internal combustion engine for moving a material distribution vehicle. A ground speed sensor measures a ground speed of the material distribution vehicle. A data processor for controlling a dispensation system to distribute an agricultural input or material at a rate based on the measured ground speed and the engine speed data (e.g., sensed engine speed or change in engine speed) to anticipate a change in the ground speed of the material dispensation vehicle such that a lag in the rate of agricultural input delivered is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Wade Steven Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20100299030
    Abstract: An engine speed sensor determines engine speed data of an internal combustion engine for moving a material distribution vehicle. A ground speed sensor measures a ground speed of the material distribution vehicle. A data processor for controlling a dispensation system to distribute an agricultural input or material at a rate based on the measured ground speed and the engine speed data (e.g., sensed engine speed or change in engine speed) to anticipate a change in the ground speed of the material dispensation vehicle such that a lag in the rate of agricultural input delivered is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventor: Wade Steven Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20100298994
    Abstract: An engine speed sensor determines engine speed data of an internal combustion engine for moving a material distribution vehicle. A ground speed sensor measures a ground speed of the material distribution vehicle. A data processor for controlling a dispensation system to distribute an agricultural input or material at a rate based on the measured ground speed and the engine speed data (e.g., sensed engine speed or change in engine speed) to anticipate a change in the ground speed of the material dispensation vehicle such that a lag in the rate of agricultural input delivered is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventor: Wade Steven Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20100256871
    Abstract: A system and method for steering an implement comprises a steering detector for detecting a target steering angle associated with an implement steering system. An implement mode detector is capable of determining whether or not the implement is acting in a lowered mode of operation in which a ground-engaging component other than one or more wheels engage the ground. An implement steering controller is arranged to adjust the target steering angle by reducing or by limiting the target steering angle to a maximum steering angle if the implement is in the lowered mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Inventor: Wade Steven Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20070197314
    Abstract: A device comprises a rangefinder, memory, display, and processor. The rangefinder can measure a distance between a user and a target on a course. The memory stores data concerning a plurality of clubs including a hitting distance for each of the golf clubs. The processor, which is connected to the rangefinder, memory, and display, is configured to select, based on the measured distance, a recommended golf club and to determine a recommended swing speed for a golfer to hit a golf ball with the recommended golf club. The processor is further configured to cause the display to indicate the recommended golf club and swing speed. The device may alternatively or additionally comprise an inclinometer and calculate an adjusted distance based on tilt and the distance, and select the recommended golf club based on the adjusted distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Inventors: Andrew York, Wade Stevens, Victoria Peters