Patents by Inventor Willis L. Thornsberry, Jr.

Willis L. Thornsberry, Jr. 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: 5698003
    Abstract: Improved solvent systems for the formulation of N-alkyl thiophosphoric triamide urease inhibitors. These formulations enable the preparation of stable concentrated solutions of N-alkyl thiophosphoric triamides for storage, transportation, and eventual impregnation onto solid urea containing fertilizers and incorporation into liquid urea containing fertilizer compositions. These formulations are comprised primarily of a solvent selected from the group consisting of glycols and glycol derivatives. Optionally, in addition to the glycol base solvent, the formulations can contain a co-solvent selected from the group consisting of liquid amides, 2-pyrrolidone and N-alkyl 2-pyrrolidones, and/or a nonionic surfactant selected from the group consisting of alkylaryl polyether alcohols. The presence of the co-solvent and/or surfactant has been found to impart desirable properties to the formulations under certain conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: IMC-Agrico Company
    Inventors: Barry A. Omilinsky, Alexander D. Lindsay, Allen R. Sutton, Willis L. Thornsberry, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5364438
    Abstract: An improved fluid urea-containing fertilizer composition is disclosed; the composition is essentially comprised of an aqueous solution of urea, ammonium nitrate, N-(n-butyl)thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT), dicyandiamide (DCD), and may optionally also contain a clay as a suspending agent. The fluid fertilizer composition can be applied to a field crop in a single application and will nevertheless supply sufficient nitrogen to the plants throughout their growth and maturing cycles. As a result, the improved composition increases the nitrogen uptake efficiency of plants, enhances crop yields, and minimizes the loss of nitrogen from the soil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: Freeport-McMoRan Resource Partners, Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Charles W. Weston, Lawrence A. Peacock, Willis L. Thornsberry, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5352265
    Abstract: An improved homogenous granular fertilizer composition is disclosed; the composition is comprised primarily of urea, N-(n-butyl)thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT), and dicyandiamide (DCD). The composition of this invention can be applied to a field crop in a single surface application and will nevertheless supply sufficient nitrogen to the plants throughout their growth and maturing cycles. The new improved composition increases the nitrogen uptake by plants, enhances crop yields, and minimizes the loss of both ammonium nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen from the soil.The NBPT is incorporated into the homogenous granular fertilizer composition of this invention by blending a concentrated solution of NBPT in a solvent selected from the group consisting of liquid amides, 2-pyrrolidone, and N-alkyl 2-pyrrolidones directly into molten urea prior to its granulation; the DCD may be added to the urea melt as a solid or in dissolved form along with the NBPT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Freeport-McMoRan Resource Partners, Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Charles W. Weston, Lawrence A. Peacock, Willis L. Thornsberry, Jr., Allen R. Sutton
  • Patent number: 5261957
    Abstract: Stabilized phosphogypsum-containing compositions with low expansion and high compressive strength characteristics are prepared by admixing phosphogypsum with a cementitious binder having a calculated zero percent tricalcium aluminate content The compositions may contain phosphogypsum and cementitious binder only or they may also include sand or other filler material. The phosphogypsum composition is wetted with water, compacted and allowed to cure. The amount of water added preferably produces a maximum density of the compacted composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: Freeport-McMoRan Resource Partners, Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Willis L. Thornsberry, Jr., James T. Houston
  • Patent number: 4915705
    Abstract: A process for producing high grade silica and fluorine-containing coproducts from fluosilicic acid is described. To produce silica, the fluosilicic acid is reacted with aqueous ammonia to produce a solid silica product and a solution of ammonium fluoride. The solid silica is washed under controlled conditions and further processed to produce a high grade product. The ammonium fluoride solution is concentrated and sold as a concentrated ammonium fluoride solution product or reacted with metal hydoxides or oxides to produce metal fluorides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Assignee: Freeport Research and Engineering Co.
    Inventors: Phillip D. Mollere, Tadeusz K. Wiewiorowski, Vivian C. Astley, Willis L. Thornsberry, Jr., Michael A. Murray
  • Patent number: 4105741
    Abstract: Process for the recovery of uranium from wet process phosphoric acid solution in which an organic extractant, containing uranium values and dissolved iron impurities and comprising a dialkylphosphoric acid and a trialkylphosphine oxide dissolved in a water immiscible organic solvent, is contacted with a substantially iron-free dilute aqueous phosphoric acid to remove said iron impurities. The removed impurities are bled from the system by feeding the resulting iron-loaded phosphoric acid to a secondary countercurrent uranium extraction operation from which they leave as part of the uranium-depleted acid raffinate. Also, process for recovering uranium in which the extractant, after it has been stripped of uranium values by aqueous ammonium carbonate, is contacted with a dilute aqueous acid selected from the group consisting of H.sub.2 SO.sub.4, HCl, HNO.sub.3 and iron-free H.sub.3 PO.sub.4 to improve the extraction efficiency of the organic extractant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1978
    Assignee: Freeport Minerals Company
    Inventors: Tadeusz K. Wiewiorowski, Willis L. Thornsberry, Jr.