Patents by Inventor Allan Walton
Allan Walton 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).
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Patent number: 11915844Abstract: A method of processing NdFeB magnetic powder comprises: providing a source of hydrogenated NdFeB powder (101, 102, 103); feeding said powder into an inlet of a cyclone separator (104); separating the powder into an overflow enriched in Nd-rich grain boundary phase and an underflow enriched in NdxFeyBHz matrix phase particles (106); optionally feeding the underflow back into the inlet of the cyclone separator whereby to further enrich the underflow in the NdxFeyBHz matrix phase particles (108a); and collecting the underflow (108).Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2017Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: The University of BirminghamInventors: Allan Walton, Neil Rowson
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Patent number: 11474050Abstract: A radiation detector module includes a frame, a module circuit board connected to the frame, detector units that each include radiation sensors disposed above the frame and electrically connected to the module circuit board, and an optically and infrared radiation opaque, X-ray transparent, electrically insulating detector shield covering a top surface and at least one side surface of the radiation sensors.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2021Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: REDLEN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Christopher Read, Keira Flanagan, Michael Ayukawa, Jeffrey Allan Walton
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Patent number: 11270840Abstract: A process is provided for the production of rare earth magnets comprising the steps of exposing a rare earth alloy to hydrogen gas at an elevated temperature so as to effect hydrogenation and disproportionation of the alloy, mechanically processing the disproportionated alloy, and degassing the processed alloy so as to effect hydrogen desorption and recombination of the alloy. The process of the invention finds use in the production and shaping of rare earth magnets, and may be particularly applicable to the production of thin magnetic sheets.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2016Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: The University of BirminghamInventors: Ivor Rex Harris, Allan Walton, Oliver Peter Brooks
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Publication number: 20210285897Abstract: A radiation detector module includes a frame, a module circuit board connected to the frame, detector units that each include radiation sensors disposed above the frame and electrically connected to the module circuit board, and an optically and infrared radiation opaque, X-ray transparent, electrically insulating detector shield covering a top surface and at least one side surface of the radiation sensors.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2021Publication date: September 16, 2021Inventors: Christopher READ, Keira FLANAGAN, Michael AYUKAWA, Jeffrey Allan WALTON
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Publication number: 20190244733Abstract: A method of processing NdFeB magnetic powder comprises: providing a source of hydrogenated NdFeB powder (101, 102, 103); feeding said powder into an inlet of a cyclone separator (104); separating the powder into an overflow enriched in Nd-rich grain boundary phase and an underflow enriched in NdxFeyBHz matrix phase particles (106); optionally feeding the underflow back into the inlet of the cyclone separator whereby to further enrich the underflow in the NdxFeyBHz matrix phase particles (108a); and collecting the underflow (108).Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2017Publication date: August 8, 2019Applicant: The University of BirminghamInventors: Allan Walton, Neil Rowson, Enrique Herraiz Lalana
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Publication number: 20180190428Abstract: A process is provided for the production of rare earth magnets comprising the steps of exposing a rare earth alloy to hydrogen gas at an elevated temperature so as to effect hydrogenation and disproportionation of the alloy, mechanically processing the disproportionated alloy, and degassing the processed alloy so as to effect hydrogen desorption and recombination of the alloy. The process of the invention finds use in the production and shaping of rare earth magnets, and may be particularly applicable to the production of thin magnetic sheets.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2016Publication date: July 5, 2018Applicant: The University of BirminghamInventors: Ivor Rex Harris, Allan Walton, Oliver Peter Brooks
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Patent number: 9663843Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for recovering rare earth particulate material from an assembly comprising a rare earth magnet and comprises the steps of exposing the assembly to hydrogen gas to effect hydrogen decrepitation of the rare earth magnet to produce a rare earth particulate material, and separating the rare earth particulate material from the rest of the assembly. The invention also resides in an apparatus for separating rare earth particulate material from an assembly comprising a rare earth magnet. The apparatus comprises a reaction vessel having an opening which can be closed to form a gas-tight seal, a separator for separating the rare earth particulate material from the assembly, and a collector for collecting the rare earth particulate material. The reaction vessel is connected to a vacuum pump and a gas control system, and the gas control system controls the supply of hydrogen gas to the reaction vessel.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2013Date of Patent: May 30, 2017Assignee: The University of BirminghamInventors: Ivor Rex Harris, Allan Walton, John D. Speight
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Patent number: 8734714Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for recovering rare earth particulate material from an assembly comprising a rare earth magnet and comprises the steps of exposing the assembly to hydrogen gas to effect hydrogen decrepitation of the rare earth magnet to produce a rare earth particulate material, and separating the rare earth particulate material from the rest of the assembly. The invention also resides in an apparatus for separating rare earth particulate material from an assembly comprising a rare earth magnet. The apparatus comprises a reaction vessel having an opening which can be closed to form a gas-tight seal, a separation means for separating the rare earth particulate material from the assembly, and a collection means for collecting the rare earth particulate material. The reaction vessel is connected to a vacuum pump and a gas control system, and the gas control system controls the supply of hydrogen gas to the reaction vessel.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2011Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: The University of BirminghamInventors: Ivor Rex Harris, Andrew Williams, Allan Walton, John Speight
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Publication number: 20130263699Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for recovering rare earth particulate material from an assembly comprising a rare earth magnet and comprises the steps of exposing the assembly to hydrogen gas to effect hydrogen decrepitation of the rare earth magnet to produce a rare earth particulate material, and separating the rare earth particulate material from the rest of the assembly. The invention also resides in an apparatus for separating rare earth particulate material from an assembly comprising a rare earth magnet. The apparatus comprises a reaction vessel having an opening which can be closed to form a gas-tight seal, a separator for separating the rare earth particulate material from the assembly, and a collector for collecting the rare earth particulate material. The reaction vessel is connected to a vacuum pump and a gas control system, and the gas control system controls the supply of hydrogen gas to the reaction vessel.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 31, 2013Publication date: October 10, 2013Inventors: Ivor Rex Harris, Andrew Williams, Allan Walton, John D. Speight
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Publication number: 20120137829Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for recovering rare earth particulate material from an assembly comprising a rare earth magnet and comprises the steps of exposing the assembly to hydrogen gas to effect hydrogen decrepitation of the rare earth magnet to produce a rare earth particulate material, and separating the rare earth particulate material from the rest of the assembly. The invention also resides in an apparatus for separating rare earth particulate material from an assembly comprising a rare earth magnet. The apparatus comprises a reaction vessel having an opening which can be closed to form a gas-tight seal, a separation means for separating the rare earth particulate material from the assembly, and a collection means for collecting the rare earth particulate material. The reaction vessel is connected to a vacuum pump and a gas control system, and the gas control system controls the supply of hydrogen gas to the reaction vessel.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2011Publication date: June 7, 2012Inventors: Ivor Rex Harris, Andrew Williams, Allan Walton, John Speight