Patents by Inventor Douglas J. Merriman

Douglas J. Merriman 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: 8105512
    Abstract: An infiltrated carbon foam composite and method for making the composite is described. The infiltrated carbon foam composite may include a carbonized carbon aerogel in cells of a carbon foam body and a resin is infiltrated into the carbon foam body filling the cells of the carbon foam body and spaces around the carbonized carbon aerogel. The infiltrated carbon foam composites may be useful for mid-density ablative thermal protection systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Touchstone Research Laboratory, Ltd.
    Inventors: Rick D. Lucas, Harry E. Danford, Janusz W. Plucinski, Douglas J. Merriman, Jesse M. Blacker
  • Patent number: 8071206
    Abstract: A blast energy mitigating composite useful for protecting a surface or an object from a blast, shock waves, or stress waves caused by a sudden, violent release of energy is described. Certain configurations of the blast energy mitigating composite may include energy mitigating units contained in an energy mitigating matrix. If desired, various reinforcement layers may be incorporated on or within the energy mitigating composite. The energy mitigating units may comprise a porous energy mitigating material such as carbon foam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Touchstone Research Laboratory, Ltd.
    Inventors: Susan C. Chang, Douglas J. Merriman, Jesse M. Blacker, Rick D. Lucas
  • Patent number: 7931961
    Abstract: A composite exhaust flue which may be used to shield an area or object from convective, conductive, or radiated heat transfer from hot exhaust combustion gases is described. In certain embodiments, the composite exhaust flue may be used to protect structures from hot exhaust gases and particles such as those produced by cars, trucks, ships, boats, jets, rockets, as well as other vehicles with internal combustion engines, turbines, or rocket motors. In some embodiments, a composite exhaust flue may comprise a ceramic fiber reinforced ceramic composite high temperature face sheet positioned over an insulating layer and a structural support layer comprising a rigid, porous foam material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Touchstone Research Laboratory, Ltd.
    Inventors: Rick D. Lucas, Douglas J. Merriman, Gregg W. Wolfe, Brian L. Gordon
  • Publication number: 20100297421
    Abstract: A blast energy mitigating composite useful for protecting a surface or an object from a blast, shock waves, or stress waves caused by a sudden, violent release of energy is described. Certain configurations of the blast energy mitigating composite may include a energy mitigating units contained in an energy mitigating matrix. The energy mitigating units may comprise a porous energy mitigating material such as carbon foam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: TOUCHSTONE RESEARCH LABORATORY, LTD
    Inventors: Susan C. Chang, Douglas J. Merriman
  • Patent number: 7736729
    Abstract: A blast energy mitigating composite useful for protecting a surface or an object from a blast, shock waves, or stress waves caused by a sudden, violent release of energy is described. Certain configurations of the blast energy mitigating composite may include a energy mitigating units contained in an energy mitigating matrix. The energy mitigating units may comprise a porous energy mitigating material such as carbon foam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Touchstone Research Laboratory, Ltd
    Inventors: Susan C. Chang, Douglas J. Merriman
  • Patent number: 7498077
    Abstract: A lightweight, high strength structure is described where a core material has a first and second metal matrix composite layer on surfaces of the core material. A sandwich type structure may be formed. The core material may be a solid material, a foam, a honeycomb structure, or may be a channeled material. The metal matrix composite layers may include fiber reinforced metal matrix composites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Touchstone Research Laboratory, Ltd.
    Inventors: Brian E. Joseph, Douglas J. Merriman, Robert Nolte, Matthew M. Rowe
  • Patent number: 7338703
    Abstract: Composites are provided having improved strength and rigidity, with respect to mass or volume, as compared to known polymeric composites or polymeric composites in combination with metal reinforcement. The composites of the present invention are metallic-polymeric composites and are comprised of polymeric composites and metallic composites. Such metallic-polymeric composites provide for composite parts having improved strength and/or rigidity, with respect to mass or volume, compared to other composite parts. The composite parts of the present invention have potential utility, for example, as aerospace craft leading edges, bodies, panels, and control surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Touchstone Research Laboratory, Ltd.
    Inventor: Douglas J. Merriman