Patents Represented by Attorney Kees van der Sterre

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  • Water filtration apparatus
    Patent number: 6227382
    Abstract: A cyst reduction water filter and a method and carafe system for using it, wherein the filter incorporates a cellular ceramic honeycomb filter element of a selectively plugged channel configuration wherein all water filtration paths traverse porous channel walls, the walls exhibiting open porosity characterized by a median pore diameter in the range of about 2-8 micrometers and with pores over 10 microns in diameter comprising not more than 10% of the open pore volume, and wherein the filter element has a primed water flux of at least 0.3 ml/min/cm3 under a water pressure of 0.3 psig.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Willard A. Cutler, Kishor P. Gadkaree, Tinghong Tao
  • Low-expansion cordierite honeycomb bodies and method
    Patent number: 6214437
    Abstract: Cordierite honeycomb bodies having low coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) and correspondingly high resistance to thermal shock, and a method for making them, wherein an alumina-yielding raw material having high specific surface area and which disperses into very fine particles in the batch, preferably together with fine talc as the sole batch source of magnesium, are disclosed; the use of fine talc enables the production of thin-walled extruded honeycomb structures exhibiting both low average CTE and high porosity, a combination particularly desirable for applications such as catalytic substrates for the control of combustion engine exhaust emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Douglas M. Beall, Gregory A. Merkel
  • Low aspect ratio diesel exhaust filter
    Patent number: 6206944
    Abstract: A porous ceramic filter offering both increased thermal mass and controlled exhaust flow performance for the filtration of particulates from diesel exhaust gases includes a wall-flow honeycomb filter body incorporating a plurality of parallel end-plugged cell channels traversing the body from filter inlet to filter outlet, the wall thickness, cell density, and outer dimensions of the honeycomb being selected to provide a honeycomb bulk density of at least about 0.50 grams/cm3 and an effective honeycomb length-to-diameter aspect ratio not exceeding about 0.9.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventor: David L. Hickman
  • Water carafe filter cartridge
    Patent number: 6159363
    Abstract: A gravity-flow water filter cartridge for use in a drinking water carafe or the like includes a high-surface area cyst reduction filter element disposed in a water-retaining reservoir within the cartridge; the reservoir retains sufficient water between filtering and during dispensing cycles to maintain the filter element in a fully immersed state, whereby the primed (air-free) condition of the filter necessary for fast gravity flow at high cyst reduction efficiency is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas A. Collins, Willard A. Cutler, David L. Hickman, Alfred N. Mack
  • Modified slot extrusion die
    Patent number: 6080348
    Abstract: A honeycomb extrusion die comprising a die body incorporating an inlet face, a discharge face opposite the inlet face, a plurality of feedholes extending from the inlet face into the body, and an intersecting array of discharge slots extending into the body from the discharge face to connect with the feed holes, the intersecting array of discharge slots being formed by the side surfaces of a plurality of pins bounded by the slots and extending into the die body from the discharge face, wherein at least some of the side surfaces of the pins incorporate at least one geometrically designed flow-modifying surface discontinuity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventor: Mark A. Shalkey
  • Coated catalytic converter substrates and mounts
    Patent number: 6077483
    Abstract: Ceramic honeycombs used as catalyst supports for combustion engine exhaust pollution control are provided with insulating porous refractory thermal barrier coatings disposed on and bonded to at least a portion of the external skins of the honeycombs, reducing the outer barrier coating surface temperature to provide thermal protection for the resilient fiber support materials used to mount the supports in catalytic converter enclosures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2000
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert J. Locker, Constance B. Sawyer, Martin J. Schad
  • Flexible inorganic electrolyte fuel cell design
    Patent number: 6045935
    Abstract: Fuel cell designs incorporating non-planar inorganic electrolyte membranes offer improved mechanical and thermal shock resistance for mobile power generation systems, e.g., for high temperature fuel cell applications using liquid fuel (diesel and gasoline) and air for automobile power plants and other power systems requiring only intermittent high-temperature fuel cell operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2000
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas D. Ketcham, William Robert Powell, Ronald L. Stewart, Dell J. St. Julien
  • Method for honeycomb extrusion using a corrected flow gradient
    Patent number: 6039908
    Abstract: Apparatus and a method for extruding a honeycomb, providing reductions in curvature or bowing of the extruded honeycomb structure, employs a bow deflector positioned upstream of the extrusion die, the bow deflector comprising adjoining, independently rotatable, first and second aperture plates of tapering thickness, the degree of bow reduction depending on the relative rotational position of the aperture plates and the resulting magnitude of the pressure/flow velocity gradient imparted by the plates on the flow stream entering the die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas W. Brew, Harry A. Kragle
  • Method for machining extrusion dies
    Patent number: 5997720
    Abstract: In a metal honeycomb extrusion die which incorporates apertures for the conveyance of extrudable material through the die body toward a discharge opening in the face of the die, the aperture sidewalls are shaped by electrochemical machining or the like to develop a periodically varying aperture size, surface shape or surface finish, superimposed on the conventional randomly varying machined aperture sidewall surface, in order to reduce the adverse effects of random surface variations on extrusion process stability and extruded product quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas W. Brew, W. Neil Peters
  • Bonded pin extrusion die and method
    Patent number: 5964020
    Abstract: A honeycomb extrusion die and a method of making the die are disclosed, the die being made by bonding a die discharge section formed as a separate pin array to a separate die body incorporating an array of feed channels, the pin array comprising a plurality of pins attached to and extending outwardly from a body-compatible pin support which is removed after bonding the pins to the body. The pins may be formed of hard wear materials, and may have any of a variety of cross-sectional shapes adapted to improve extrusion uniformity as well as to form honeycomb cells of a variety of different cross-sectional shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Harry A. Kragle, Floyd E. Stumpff
  • Triangular cell metal filters
    Patent number: 5961918
    Abstract: Honeycomb filters for the filtration of molten metal streams comprise a triangular cell cross-section in combination with specified cell density, cell wall thickness, filter open frontal area and geometric surface area, thereby offering improved filtration performance when compared with similar filters of square or circular cell design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventor: J. Paul Day
  • Mineral-insulated cable terminations
    Patent number: 5917150
    Abstract: A mineral-insulated cable termination offering hermetic sealing of the cable end at temperatures in excess of 300.degree. C. having a metal spacer or extension sealed to the cable sheath which matches the cable conductor in thermal expansion, and a high-expansion, refractory glass, ceramic, or glass-ceramic seal filling the gap between and sealed to each of the spacer and the cable sheath, the termination offering stable protection for the cable insulation under corrosive high-temperature operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Leslie E. Hampton, G. Daniel Lipp, Robert J. Locker
  • Automotive hydrocarbon adsorber system
    Patent number: 5916133
    Abstract: An improved system for the control of combustion engine exhaust from a motor vehicle includes an adsorber for the adsorption of hydrocarbons concentrated in the exhaust stream at engine startup, the adsorber being of honeycomb shape which includes a peripheral channeled portion and a central channeled portion, the latter including an exhaust gas by-pass port parallel with the channels, with the through-channels in the central portion of the honeycomb having a relatively high resistance to exhaust gas flow compared to the channels traversing the peripheral portion. Systems with reduced secondary air requirements and providing more efficient burn-off of the adsorbed hydrocarbons are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Carol L. Buhrmaster, William Hertl, Mallanagouda D. Patil, Louis S. Socha, Jr., Jimmie L. Williams
  • Process for forming honeycomb extrusion die
    Patent number: 5865983
    Abstract: Honeycomb extrusion dies for the extrusion of honeycomb ceramics of high cell density and reduced cell wall thickness are machined from fully consolidated powder-formed (P/M) stainless steels, providing dies with reduced feed hole roughness, improved feed hole straightness, and superior discharge slot finish, with the result that significantly enhanced extrusion performance and higher quality honeycomb extrusions are realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventor: Richard L. Seely
  • Rectangular-channel catalytic converters
    Patent number: 5866080
    Abstract: Extruded rectangular-channel ceramic honeycombs wherein the channels have a rectangular cross-section of aspect ratio 1.2:1 or greater and a hydraulic diameter D.sub.h and constant temperature Nusselt Number N.sub..mu. ("shape" heat transfer characteristic) yielding an "effective" channel surface area factor N.sub..mu. /D.sub.h of at least about 70, provide catalytic substrates for engine exhaust emissions control offering better light-off performance, enhanced conversion efficiency at current converter pressure drops, and/or equivalent efficiency at reduced pressure drops.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventor: J. Paul Day
  • Method for compounding ceramic powder batches
    Patent number: 5824143
    Abstract: Plasticized inorganic powder batches comprising a cellulosic binder, water, and at least one inorganic powder exhibiting relatively high water affinity are compounded by combining the inorganic powder, prior to any contact with the water or cellulosic binder, with an organic surface treatment agent to decrease the water affinity thereof; subsequent mixing of the treated powder with the water and the cellulosic binder forms a plasticized inorganic powder batch with improved extrusion, molding, or other shaping characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Devi Chalasani, Robert J. Locker, Constance B. Sawyer
  • Method for producing thin flexible sintered structures
    Patent number: 5814262
    Abstract: Thin inorganic sintered structures having strength and flexibility sufficient to permit bending without breakage in at least one direction to a radius of curvature of less than 20 centimeters, methods for making them, and products incorporating them, are described. Preferred sintered ceramic structures according to the invention can comprise zirconias, titanias, aluminas, silicas, rare earth metal oxides, alkaline oxides, alkaline earth metal oxides and first, second, and third transition series metal oxides and combinations thereof and therebetween. Sintered metal structures can also be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Thomas D. Ketcham, Wayne B. Sanderson, deceased, by Stuart R. Sanderson, administrator, Dell J. St. Julien, Kathleen A. Wexell
  • Process of and apparatus for homogenizing a flow stream
    Patent number: 5811048
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for homogenizing a flow stream of plasticized material supplied from an extruder, to reduce viscosity gradients causing defects in extruded products, wherein a flow inverting homogenizer positioned in the flow stream and incorporating a plurality of criss-crossing channels for simultaneously transferring portions of the flow stream from central to peripheral flow stream locations and other portions of the flow stream from peripheral to central flow stream locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Rodney G. Dunn, David R. Treacy, Jr., Michael E. Zak
  • Gas treatment systems
    Patent number: 5771684
    Abstract: Flow diverter methods and apparatus useful, for example, in adsorber systems capable of meeting the California ultra-low emission vehicle (ULEV) standard, are described, the adsorber systems incorporating a combination of a burn-off catalyst and a modified adsorber constructed with an open flow region of substantially unobstructed flow having a hole or a region of larger cell openings, the flow diverter acting to control exhaust flow through the adsorber to both increase adsorption and reduce the light-off time of the burn-off catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: William Hertl, Donald L. Guile, Mallanagouda D. Patil, Jimmie L. Williams
  • Method of making bonded pin extrusion die
    Patent number: 5761787
    Abstract: A honeycomb extrusion die and a method of making the die are disclosed, the die being made by bonding a die discharge section formed as a separate pin array to a separate die body incorporating an array of feed channels, the pin array comprising a plurality of pins attached to and extending outwardly from a body-compatible pin support which is removed after bonding the pins to the body. The pins may be formed of hard wear materials, and may have any of a variety of cross-sectional shapes adapted to improve extrusion uniformity as well as to form honeycomb cells of a variety of different cross-sectional shapes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Harry A. Kragle, Floyd E. Stumpff