Patents by Inventor Derek A. Sutherland

Derek A. Sutherland 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: 20180025791
    Abstract: A plasma confinement system is provided that includes a confinement chamber that includes one or more enclosures of respective helicity injectors. The one or more enclosures are coupled to ports at an outer radius of the confinement chamber. The system further includes one or more conductive coils aligned substantially parallel to the one or more enclosures and a further set of one or more conductive coils respectively surrounding portions of the one or more enclosures. Currents may be provided to the sets of conductive coils to energize a gas within the confinement chamber into a plasma. Further, a heat-exchange system is provided that includes an inner wall, an intermediate wall, an outer wall, and pipe sections configured to carry coolant through cavities formed by the walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas R. Jarboe, Derek Sutherland
  • Patent number: 9754686
    Abstract: A plasma confinement system is provided that includes a confinement chamber that includes one or more enclosures of respective helicity injectors. The one or more enclosures are coupled to ports at an outer radius of the confinement chamber. The system further includes one or more conductive coils aligned substantially parallel to the one or more enclosures and a further set of one or more conductive coils respectively surrounding portions of the one or more enclosures. Currents may be provided to the sets of conductive coils to energize a gas within the confinement chamber into a plasma. Further, a heat-exchange system is provided that includes an inner wall, an intermediate wall, an outer wall, and pipe sections configured to carry coolant through cavities formed by the walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: University of Washington Through Its Center For Commercialization
    Inventors: Thomas R. Jarboe, Derek Sutherland
  • Publication number: 20150055739
    Abstract: A plasma confinement system is provided that includes a confinement chamber that includes one or more enclosures of respective helicity injectors. The one or more enclosures are coupled to ports at an outer radius of the confinement chamber. The system further includes one or more conductive coils aligned substantially parallel to the one or more enclosures and a further set of one or more conductive coils respectively surrounding portions of the one or more enclosures. Currents may be provided to the sets of conductive coils to energize a gas within the confinement chamber into a plasma. Further, a heat-exchange system is provided that includes an inner wall, an intermediate wall, an outer wall, and pipe sections configured to carry coolant through cavities formed by the walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas R. Jarboe, Derek Sutherland
  • Patent number: 5981020
    Abstract: The present invention includes a foam flame bonded fabric laminate that is wind-resistant, breathable, and supple along with a low cost process for producing it. The apparatus of the present invention comprises a foam bonding agent layered between fabrics or other materials where the foam possesses wind-resistant and breathable characteristics independent of the other layers. The process of the present invention involves two-step foam flame bonding with each step accomplished in a separate pass through a laminating device. In one embodiment, the first step includes lightly exposing a thin polymer foam (such as polyester polyurethane or polyether polyurethane) to a flame without preheating, then pressing it against the inner face of mesh or tricot. The second step includes more vigorously exposing the foam face of the foam-mesh or foam-tricot laminate to a flame, then pressing it against the inner face of a berber, pile, or fleece fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Harrison Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Derek A. Sutherland, William F. Willard