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).

  • Patent number: 11915844
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: The University of Birmingham
    Inventors: Allan Walton, Neil Rowson
  • Patent number: 11474050
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: REDLEN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Christopher Read, Keira Flanagan, Michael Ayukawa, Jeffrey Allan Walton
  • Patent number: 11270840
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: The University of Birmingham
    Inventors: Ivor Rex Harris, Allan Walton, Oliver Peter Brooks
  • Publication number: 20210285897
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2021
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Inventors: Christopher READ, Keira FLANAGAN, Michael AYUKAWA, Jeffrey Allan WALTON
  • Publication number: 20190244733
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2017
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Applicant: The University of Birmingham
    Inventors: Allan Walton, Neil Rowson, Enrique Herraiz Lalana
  • Publication number: 20180190428
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Applicant: The University of Birmingham
    Inventors: Ivor Rex Harris, Allan Walton, Oliver Peter Brooks
  • Patent number: 9663843
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: The University of Birmingham
    Inventors: Ivor Rex Harris, Allan Walton, John D. Speight
  • Patent number: 8734714
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: The University of Birmingham
    Inventors: Ivor Rex Harris, Andrew Williams, Allan Walton, John Speight
  • Publication number: 20130263699
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Inventors: Ivor Rex Harris, Andrew Williams, Allan Walton, John D. Speight
  • Publication number: 20120137829
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Ivor Rex Harris, Andrew Williams, Allan Walton, John Speight