Patents by Inventor William Nicholas

William Nicholas 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: 20080217212
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing bitumen froth comprising a cyclone body having an elongated conical inner surface defining a cyclone cavity extending from an upper inlet region with a diameter DC to a lower apex outlet with a diameter DU of not less than about 40 mm; an inlet means forming an inlet channel extending into the upper inlet region of said cyclone cavity; and a vortex finder forming an overflow outlet of a diameter DO extending into the upper inlet region of said cyclone cavity toward said lower apex outlet and having a lower end extending an excursion distance below said inlet channel, said excursion distance being operable to permit a portion of bitumen that passes through said inlet channel to exit said overflow outlet without having to make a spiral journey down said cyclone cavity, wherein a lower end of the vortex finder within the cyclone cavity is disposed a free vortex height (FVH) distance from said lower apex outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Inventors: WILLIAM NICHOLAS GARNER, DONALD NORMAN MADGE, WILLIAM LESTER STRAND
  • Publication number: 20080149542
    Abstract: An extraction system and process for extracting bitumen from a slurry containing bitumen, solids and water. The system comprises a cyclone separation facility for separating the slurry into a solids component stream and a bitumen froth stream with the bitumen froth stream including water and fine solids. The bitumen froth stream is then delivered to a froth concentration facility for separating the bitumen froth stream into a final bitumen enriched froth stream, and a water and fine solids stream. The final bitumen enriched froth stream is suitable for further processing. The system of the present invention is preferably mobile so that the cyclone extraction facility and the froth concentration facility can move with the mine face at an oil sands mining site, however, it is also contemplated that the system can be retrofitted to existing fixed treatment facilities to improve the operational efficiency of such fixed facilities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Applicant: SUNCOR ENERGY INC.
    Inventors: BRADFORD E. BJORNSON, CRAIG AARON STRAND, WILLIAM NICHOLAS GARNER, JOHN KHAI-QUANG DIEP, DARWIN EDWARD KIEL, THOMAS CHARLES HANN
  • Patent number: 7141162
    Abstract: Discloses apparatus to perform a process to remove water and minerals from a bitumen froth output of a oil sands hot water extraction process. A bitumen froth feed stream is diluted with a solvent and supplied to a primary inclined plate separator stage, which separates the bitumen into an overflow stream providing a bitumen product output from the circuit and a bitumen depleted underflow stream. A primary cyclone stage, a secondary inclined plate separator stage and a secondary cyclone stage further process the underflow stream to produce a secondary bitumen recovery product stream and a recycle stream. The secondary bitumen recovery product steam is incorporated into and becomes part of the circuit bitumen product output stream. The recycle stream is incorporated into the bitumen froth feed stream for reprocessing by the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Suncor Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: William Nicholas Garner, Donald Norman Madge, William Lester Strand
  • Patent number: 7121048
    Abstract: A method of removing a predetermined area and depth of formable material from an expanse of the formable material having a top surface. The method makes use of a volume indicating tool that includes a depth indicator that has a material surface indicator and a depth guide. The material surface indicator is at a height above the depth guide substantially equal to the predetermined depth. The volume indicating also includes an area indicator, indicating an area equal to the predetermined area. The volume indicating tool is pushed into the formable material until the material surface indicator is level with the top surface of the formable material, thereby pushing the depth guide to the predetermined depth. Then a shovel is pushed into the deformable material until it reaches the depth of the depth guide and is used to gather formable material. The shovel is emptied at a location away from the shovel guide tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Masons Supply Company
    Inventors: Patrick J. Merriman, William Nicholas Merriman
  • Patent number: 7049359
    Abstract: The present invention provides a wall for a package, which wall comprises, or includes a layer comprising, a composition comprising a polymer and capable of scavenging oxygen through the metal-catalysed oxidation of an oxidizable organic component thereof. The oxidizable organic component is preferably itself a polymer, and may be the only polymer in the composition. Preferred compositions include a blend of 96% polyethylene terephthalate and 4% poly (m-xylyleneadipamide) containing 200 ppm cobalt as catalyst, with good permeance-versus-time performance (3) when formed into a bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Constar International, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Alexander Cochran, Rickworth Folland, James William Nicholas, Melvin Edward Riddell Robinson
  • Patent number: 7000361
    Abstract: A method of providing a paved area having a predetermined set of surface features. The method begins with the pouring of wet concrete into a predetermined area. Then a predetermined thickness of the wet concrete is removed in a predetermined portion of the predetermined area, thereby creating a lower, upwardly facing surface in the predetermined portion. At this point, a paving tile having the predetermined set of surface features is placed on the lower, upwardly facing surface. Finally, the wet concrete underneath and about the paving tile is permitted to cure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Masons Supply Company
    Inventors: Patrick J. Merriman, William Nicholas Merriman
  • Patent number: 6912719
    Abstract: A method of and a system for processing an enterpise an application request on an end user application and an application server. This is accomplished by initiating the application request on the end user application in a first language (such as a markup language) with a first application program (such as a Web browser), and transmitting the application request to the server and converting the application from the first language of the first end user application to a language running on the application server, processing the application request on the application server, and transmitting the response from the application server back to the end user application, and converting the response from the language running on the application server to the language of the end user application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alan Roeder Elderon, Shyh-Mei F. Ho, James Rush Rhyne, II, William Nicholas John Tindall, Tony Y Tsai
  • Patent number: 6904598
    Abstract: A method of and a system for processing an enterpise an application request on an end user application and an application server. This is accomplished by initiating the application request on the end user application in a first language (such as a markup language) with a first application program (such as a Web browser), and transmitting the application request to the server and converting the application from the first language of the first end user application to a language running on the application server, processing the application request on the application server, and transmitting the response from the application server back to the end user application, and converting the response from the language running on the application server to the language of the end user application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Shahaf Abileah, Alan Roeder Elderon, Shyh-Mei F. Ho, James Rush Rhyne, II, William Nicholas John Tindall, Tony Y Tsai
  • Publication number: 20040219320
    Abstract: The present invention provides a wall for a package, which wall comprises, or includes a layer comprising, a composition comprising a polymer and capable of scavenging oxygen through the metal-catalysed oxidation of an oxidisable organic component thereof. The oxidisable organic component is preferably itself a polymer, and may be the only polymer in the composition. Preferred compositions include a blend of 96% polyethylene terephthalate and 4% poly (m-xylyleneadipamide) containing 200 ppm cobalt as catalyst, with good permeance-versus-time performance (3) when formed into a bottle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Applicant: Constar International, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Alexander Cochran, Rickworth Folland, James William Nicholas, Melvin Edward Riddell Robinson
  • Publication number: 20040055972
    Abstract: Discloses apparatus to perform a process to remove water and minerals from a bitumen froth output of a oil sands hot water extraction process. A bitumen froth feed stream is diluted with a solvent and supplied to a primary inclined plate separator stage, which separates the bitumen into an overflow stream providing a bitumen product output from the circuit and a bitumen depleted underflow stream. A primary cyclone stage, a secondary inclined plate separator stage and a secondary cyclone stage further process the underflow stream to produce a secondary bitumen recovery product stream and a recycle stream. The secondary bitumen recovery product steam is incorporated into and becomes part of the circuit bitumen product output stream. The recycle stream is incorporated into the bitumen froth feed stream for reprocessing by the circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2002
    Publication date: March 25, 2004
    Inventors: William Nicholas Garner, Donald Norman Madge, William Lester Strand
  • Patent number: 6615180
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for determining premium tables to produce annuity rates, where the annuity rates reflect client data pertaining to age, sex, medical conditions and high risk behavior. The annuity rate reflects potential medical and social advancement, prudence, interest, expenses, and commissions as well as other related factors in determining premiums to be paid by individuals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Impaired Life Services Limited
    Inventors: William Nicholas Anderton, Christopher Rostron
  • Publication number: 20030163585
    Abstract: A method of and a system for processing an enterpise an application request on an end user application and an application server. This is accomplished by initiating the application request on the end user application in a first language (such as a markup language) with a first application program (such as a Web browser), and transmitting the application request to the server and converting the application from the first language of the first end user application to a language running on the application server, processing the application request on the application server, and transmitting the response from the application server back to the end user application, and converting the response from the language running on the application server to the language of the end user application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2001
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alan Roeder Elderon, Shyh-Mei F. Ho, James Rush Rhyne, William Nicholas John Tindall, Tony Y Tsai
  • Patent number: 6566316
    Abstract: A composition for removing ink, paint, and other coatings that is substantially non-toxic, non-caustic, non-volatile, biodegradable, meets regulation standards, and has a low disposal cost. The composition comprises an alcohol in an amount from about 5% to about 60% by volume; a terpene containing liquid in an amount from about 5% to about 60% by volume; a sufficient amount of mixing agent for mixing the terpene containing liquid in water; and water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Inventors: William Nicholas Hiatt, Shannon Dale Eckel
  • Publication number: 20030092921
    Abstract: A catalyst comprises a titanium-containing oxide and gold deposited by deposition-precipitation on the oxide in a gold-bearing solution where the solution and the oxide are centrifuged to separate out the catalyst. The catalyst is used in oxidation of an olefin by contacting the olefin with a reaction gas and the catalyst which is heated in the reaction gas to a reaction temperature at a controlled heating rate to avoid agglomeration of gold species.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2002
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Inventors: Eric E. Stangland, William Nicholas Delgass, Ronald P. Andres
  • Publication number: 20030074226
    Abstract: An actuarial data processing system comprises data input means for inputting client information, output means for outputting information, storage means and processing means. The processing means is adapted to use the client information and data stored in the storage means to output the client's life expectancy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventors: Chris Rostron, William Nicholas Anderton
  • Publication number: 20030032570
    Abstract: A composition for removing ink, paint, and other coatings that is substantially non-toxic, non-caustic, non-volatile, biodegradable, meets regulation standards, and has a low disposal cost. The composition comprises an alcohol in an amount from about 5% to about 60% by volume; a terpene containing liquid in an amount from about 5% to about 60% by volume; a sufficient amount of mixing agent for mixing the terpene containing liquid in water; and water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2001
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventors: William Nicholas Hiatt, Shannon Dale Eckel
  • Patent number: 6411491
    Abstract: A capacitive energy storage device for use at cryogenic temperatures is provided including first and second electrode layers having a layer of dielectric material there between. The electrode layers include an electrically conductive material having a formula selected from YBa2Cu3Ox and Bi2Ca2Sr2Cu3Oy. A method of storing electrical charge in a capacitive energy storage device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: CeramPhysics, Inc.
    Inventors: William Nicholas Lawless, Charles Frederick Clark, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20020077022
    Abstract: The Spirit Shaker is a durable, mobile and completely childproof design, made of hard or soft plastic. Partially filled internally with plastic chips, beads or desired filling that makes the unique and ultimate noise. A built-in pick up apparatus (handle) at the top or side operable to grip, lift and then shake. The Spirit Shaker is mounted to a base that allows it to stand alone as a novelty display when not in use.(no assembly require) The Spirit Shaker's designs vary in shapes, sizes, colors for personalized or theme novelty design. The Spirit Shaker will also have a variety of different shapes and sizes sport balls (i.e., football, basketball, baseball, hockey puck, soccer ball, etc.) uniquely matching the specific team colors and painted on logos.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventor: Kyshea Williams-Nicholas Williams
  • Patent number: D504163
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Inventor: Kyshea Williams-Nicholas
  • Patent number: D508092
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Inventor: Kyshea Williams-Nicholas