Patents by Inventor David W. Woodruff

David W. Woodruff 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: 20220315422
    Abstract: A production system includes a first reaction chamber and a second reaction chamber. The first reaction chamber is configured to receive a first hydrocarbon stream therein through an input port and to form carbon seeds and hydrogen gas therein via hydrocarbon pyrolysis of the first hydrocarbon stream. The second reaction chamber includes a first input port and a second input port. The second reaction chamber is configured to receive the carbon seeds through the first input port and a second hydrocarbon stream through the second input port, and to form carbon product elements and additional hydrogen gas in the second reaction chamber via hydrocarbon pyrolysis of the second hydrocarbon stream. The carbon product elements represent the carbon seeds with additional carbon structure grown on the carbon seeds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2022
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Inventors: Richard Louis Hart, David J. Smith, David W. Woodruff, Mark Daniel Doherty
  • Publication number: 20210047180
    Abstract: A production system includes a first reaction chamber and a second reaction chamber. The first reaction chamber is configured to receive a first hydrocarbon stream therein through an input port and to form carbon seeds and hydrogen gas therein via hydrocarbon pyrolysis of the first hydrocarbon stream. The second reaction chamber includes a first input port and a second input port. The second reaction chamber is configured to receive the carbon seeds through the first input port and a second hydrocarbon stream through the second input port, and to form carbon product elements and additional hydrogen gas in the second reaction chamber via hydrocarbon pyrolysis of the second hydrocarbon stream. The carbon product elements represent the carbon seeds with additional carbon structure grown on the carbon seeds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2019
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Inventors: Richard Louis Hart, David J. Smith, David W. Woodruff, Mark Daniel Doherty
  • Patent number: 7122619
    Abstract: A method of separating a polymer-solvent mixture is described wherein a polymer-solvent mixture is heated prior to its introduction into an extruder comprising an upstream vent and/or a side feeder vent to allow flash evaporation of the solvent, and downstream vents for removal of remaining solvent. The one-step method is highly efficient having very high throughput rates while at the same time providing a polymer product containing low levels of residual solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Norberto Silvi, Mark H. Giammattei, Jan P. Keulen, David W. Woodruff, Paul R. Wilson, Paul W. Buckley, Norman Enoch Johnson
  • Patent number: 6949622
    Abstract: A method of separating a polymer-solvent mixture is described wherein a polymer-solvent mixture is heated prior to its introduction into an extruder comprising an upstream vent and/or a side feeder vent to allow flash evaporation of the solvent, and downstream vents for removal of remaining solvent. The one-step method is highly efficient having very high throughput rates while at the same time providing a polymer product containing low levels of residual solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Norberto Silvi, Mark H. Giammattei, Jan P. Keulen, David W. Woodruff, Paul R. Wilson, Paul W. Buckley, Norman Enoch Johnson
  • Patent number: 5629970
    Abstract: An x-ray tube target includes an annular disk having an outer surface including front and back opposite faces, and an annular focal track fixedly joined to the disk front face for producing x-rays. The disk outer surface is rough away from the focal track, with surface roughness pits having width and depth dimensions greater than a wavelength of peak radiant emission of the target at operating temperature for increasing emissivity of the target to increase thermal radiation cooling thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David W. Woodruff, Robert D. Lillquist
  • Patent number: 5397396
    Abstract: Temperature uniformity and control in apparatus for chemical vapor deposition of diamond is improved by contacting the rear of the substrate assembly, which may be a substrate or a holder containing substrates, with a thermal spreader, preferably of copper and preferably having heating means embedded therein or associated therewith. The thermal spreader contacts a thermal resistance unit, preferably of stainless steel, which in turn is in contact with a cooling element that preferably has coolant passages therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Philip G. Kosky, Erik O. Einset, David W. Woodruff
  • Patent number: 5372645
    Abstract: The thickness of a layer of material deposited by chemical vapor deposition, especially a diamond layer, is monitored by providing at least one substrate on which the material is deposited, with at least one perforation of a predetermined size therein. The relationship between the thickness of the layer formed in said perforation and the thickness of the layer formed on the substrate surface is determined, so that the thickness of the surface layer can be determined from the thickness of the layer formed in the perforation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas R. Fnthony, James F. Fleischer, David W. Woodruff
  • Patent number: 5300313
    Abstract: The thickness of a layer of material deposited by chemical vapor deposition, especially a diamond layer, is monitored by providing at least one substrate on which the material is deposited, with at least one perforation of a predetermined size therein. The relationship between the thickness of the layer formed in said perforation and the thickness of the layer formed on the substrate surface is determined, so that the thickness of the surface layer can be determined from the thickness of the layer formed in the perforation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas R. Anthony, James F. Fleischer, David W. Woodruff
  • Patent number: 5204891
    Abstract: An improved high performance x-ray tube having a rotating graphite anode therein and method of preparation thereof. The surface of a graphite anode body is oxidized in air for removing the surface damage caused during the machining of the anode body. The anode body is provided with a diffusion barrier layer of rhenium contiguously disposed on the substantially damage free surface of the anode body. An anode target layer is then deposited on top of the barrier layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David W. Woodruff, Minyoung Lee
  • Patent number: 5148463
    Abstract: An improved high performance x-ray tube rotating having a graphite anode therein and method of preparation thereof. A graphite anode body is provided with a microcracked contiguously disposed diffusion barrier layer of rhenium on the surface of the anode body. An anode target layer is then deposited on top of the barrier layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1992
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David W. Woodruff, Minyoung Lee
  • Patent number: 4920012
    Abstract: Fine-grained and/or equiaxed tungsten and/or rhenium coatings, substantially free from columnar structure, are deposited on substrates (especially graphite) by chemical vapor deposition by directing the flow of reactant gases to the substrate with high velocity and in close proximity thereto, most often at a velocity gradient of at least about 1050 and preferably at least about 2000 cm./cm.-sec. The deposition process is preferably conducted while moving the substrate so as to coat large areas thereof. By this method, tungsten and/or rhenium-coated articles useful as X-ray targets having excellent properties under conditions of rapid temperature cycling may be produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1990
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David W. Woodruff, Joan M. Redwing