Patents by Inventor Wesley Twombly

Wesley Twombly 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: 11172695
    Abstract: A method and composition for providing hydrolyzed starch and fiber. In one aspect, the method comprises providing a first enzyme; a second enzyme; water; and a starting composition comprising at least one material selected from the group consisting of at least a portion of grain and at least a portion of pulse. Additional steps comprise hydrolyzing the fiber and starch in the at least one material through fiber and starch hydrolysis reactions catalyzed by the first and second enzymes, respectively. Further steps comprise deactivating the first and second enzymes. In a second aspect, a composition comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of at least a portion of grain and at least a portion of pulse. The average molecular weights of the hydrolyzed starch and fiber molecules in the composition are fractions of the molecular weights of unhydrolyzed starch and fiber molecules, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: The Quaker Oats Company
    Inventors: Khushal Brijwani, Gary Carder, Yongsoo Chung, Ursula Vanesa Lay Ma, John Schuette, Wesley Twombly
  • Patent number: 10975404
    Abstract: A method and composition comprising hydrolyzed starch. In a first aspect, the method comprises several steps. A first step comprises combining at least a portion of pulse and a suitable enzyme to form an enzyme-pulse starting mixture. The enzyme-pulse starting mixture comprises starch. A second step comprises heating the enzyme-pulse starting mixture to between about 48.89° C. and about 93.33° C. to begin to hydrolyze the starch, thereby providing a heated pulse mixture. A third step comprises extruding the heated pulse mixture to continue hydrolyzing the starch and further to gelatinize and cook the heated pulse mixture thereby providing a pulse product comprising gelatinized, hydrolyzed starch. In a second aspect, the invention provides a composition comprising at least a portion of pulse, and the at least a portion of pulse comprises gelatinized, hydrolyzed starch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: The Quaker Oats Company
    Inventors: Gary Carder, Robert E. Chatel, Yongsoo Chung, Justin A. French, Wesley Twombly
  • Patent number: 10913963
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlled hydrolysis. The method can comprise hydrolyzing a first reagent in a first hydrolysis reaction and deactivating a first enzyme catalyzing the first hydrolysis reaction. The deactivating step can occur in about 10 seconds or less; the deactivating step can comprise adding a deactivating fluid to a composition comprising the first enzyme and heating the first enzyme using a deactivating mechanism. In other aspects, hydrolyzing the first reagent and deactivating the first enzyme can occur in a conduit, and the first hydrolysis reaction can occur in a composition that is at least 50% water by weight. The apparatus can provide a hydrolysis reactor comprising: a conduit; a composition inlet in the conduit for a composition; a first enzyme inlet in the conduit downstream of the composition inlet; and a first deactivating mechanism downstream of the first enzyme inlet to deactivate the first enzyme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: The Quaker Oats Company
    Inventors: Gary Carder, Yongsoo Chung, Prashant Mehta, Wesley Twombly
  • Publication number: 20200270661
    Abstract: A method and composition comprising hydrolyzed starch. In a first aspect, the method comprises several steps. A first step comprises combining at least a portion of pulse and a suitable enzyme to form an enzyme-pulse starting mixture. The enzyme-pulse starting mixture comprises starch. A second step comprises heating the enzyme-pulse starting mixture to between about 48.89° C. and about 93.33° C. to begin to hydrolyze the starch, thereby providing a heated pulse mixture. A third step comprises extruding the heated pulse mixture to continue hydrolyzing the starch and further to gelatinize and cook the heated pulse mixture thereby providing a pulse product comprising gelatinized, hydrolyzed starch. In a second aspect, the invention provides a composition comprising at least a portion of pulse, and the at least a portion of pulse comprises gelatinized, hydrolyzed starch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2020
    Publication date: August 27, 2020
    Inventors: Gary Carder, Robert E. Chatel, Yongsoo Chung, Justin A. French, Wesley Twombly
  • Patent number: 10689678
    Abstract: A method and composition comprising hydrolyzed starch. In a first aspect, the method comprises several steps. A first step comprises combining at least a portion of pulse and a suitable enzyme to form an enzyme-pulse starting mixture. The enzyme-pulse starting mixture comprises starch. A second step comprises heating the enzyme-pulse starting mixture to between about 48.89° C. and about 93.33° C. to begin to hydrolyze the starch, thereby providing a heated pulse mixture. A third step comprises extruding the heated pulse mixture to continue hydrolyzing the starch and further to gelatinize and cook the heated pulse mixture thereby providing a pulse product comprising gelatinized, hydrolyzed starch. In a second aspect, the invention provides a composition comprising at least a portion of pulse, and the at least a portion of pulse comprises gelatinized, hydrolyzed starch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: The Quaker Oats Company
    Inventors: Gary Carder, Robert E. Chatel, Yongsoo Chung, Justin A. French, Wesley Twombly
  • Publication number: 20190233864
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlled hydrolysis. The method can comprise hydrolyzing a first reagent in a first hydrolysis reaction and deactivating a first enzyme catalyzing the first hydrolysis reaction. The deactivating step can occur in about 10 seconds or less; the deactivating step can comprise adding a deactivating fluid to a composition comprising the first enzyme and heating the first enzyme using a deactivating mechanism. In other aspects, hydrolyzing the first reagent and deactivating the first enzyme can occur in a conduit, and the first hydrolysis reaction can occur in a composition that is at least 50% water by weight. The apparatus can provide a hydrolysis reactor comprising: a conduit; a composition inlet in the conduit for a composition; a first enzyme inlet in the conduit downstream of the composition inlet; and a first deactivating mechanism downstream of the first enzyme inlet to deactivate the first enzyme.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Gary CARDER, Yongsoo CHUNG, Prashant MEHTA, Wesley TWOMBLY
  • Publication number: 20170275662
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlled hydrolysis. The method can comprise hydrolyzing a first reagent in a first hydrolysis reaction and deactivating a first enzyme catalyzing the first hydrolysis reaction. The deactivating step can occur in about 10 seconds or less; the deactivating step can comprise adding a deactivating fluid to a composition comprising the first enzyme and heating the first enzyme using a deactivating mechanism. In other aspects, hydrolyzing the first reagent and deactivating the first enzyme can occur in a conduit, and the first hydrolysis reaction can occur in a composition that is at least 50% water by weight. The apparatus can provide a hydrolysis reactor comprising: a conduit; a composition inlet in the conduit for a composition; a first enzyme inlet in the conduit downstream of the composition inlet; and a first deactivating mechanism downstream of the first enzyme inlet to deactivate the first enzyme.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: Gary Carder, Yongsoo Chung, Prashant Mehta, Wesley Twombly
  • Publication number: 20170273337
    Abstract: A method and composition for providing hydrolyzed starch and fiber. In one aspect, the method comprises providing a first enzyme; a second enzyme; water; and a starting composition comprising at least one material selected from the group consisting of at least a portion of grain and at least a portion of pulse. Additional steps comprise hydrolyzing the fiber and starch in the at least one material through fiber and starch hydrolysis reactions catalyzed by the first and second enzymes, respectively. Further steps comprise deactivating the first and second enzymes. In a second aspect, a composition comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of at least a portion of grain and at least a portion of pulse. The average molecular weights of the hydrolyzed starch and fiber molecules in the composition are fractions of the molecular weights of unhydrolyzed starch and fiber molecules, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: Khushal Brijwani, Gary Carder, Yongsoo Chung, Ursula Vanesa Lay Ma, John Schuette, Wesley Twombly
  • Publication number: 20160198754
    Abstract: A method and composition comprising hydrolyzed starch. In a first aspect, the method comprises several steps. A first step comprises combining at least a portion of pulse and a suitable enzyme to form an enzyme-pulse starting mixture. The enzyme-pulse starting mixture comprises starch. A second step comprises heating the enzyme-pulse starting mixture to between about 48.89° C. and about 93.33° C. to begin to hydrolyze the starch, thereby providing a heated pulse mixture. A third step comprises extruding the heated pulse mixture to continue hydrolyzing the starch and further to gelatinize and cook the heated pulse mixture thereby providing a pulse product comprising gelatinized, hydrolyzed starch. In a second aspect, the invention provides a composition comprising at least a portion of pulse, and the at least a portion of pulse comprises gelatinized, hydrolyzed starch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Inventors: Gary Carder, Robert E. Chatel, Yongsoo Chung, Justin A. French, Wesley Twombly