Patents by Inventor Douglas J. Miller

Douglas J. Miller 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: 20090288983
    Abstract: A high coking value pitch prepared from coal tar distillate and has a low softening point and a high carbon value while containing substantially no quinoline insolubles is disclosed. The pitch can be used as an impregnant or binder for producing carbon and graphite articles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Inventors: Douglas J. Miller, Ching-Feng Chang, Irwin C. Lewis, Richard T. Lewis
  • Publication number: 20090137693
    Abstract: A carbon foam article useful for, inter alia, composite tooling or other high temperature applications, which includes a carbon foam having a ratio of compressive strength to density of at least about 7000 psi/g/cc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventors: Douglas J. Miller, Irwin C. Lewis, Robert A. Mercuri
  • Patent number: 7527855
    Abstract: A carbon foam article useful for, inter alia, composite tooling or other high temperature applications, which includes a carbon foam having a ratio of compressive strength to density of at least about 7000 psi/g/cc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: GrafTech International Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas J. Miller, Irwin C. Lewis, Robert A. Mercuri
  • Publication number: 20080292854
    Abstract: The core panel includes a plurality of carbon foam blocks. One or more of the blocks have a cell volume wherein at least about 90% of the cells have a diameter of between at least about 10 microns and about 150 microns. Also at least about 1% of the cell volume of the block has cells having a diameter of about 0.8 microns to about 3.5 microns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2007
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Inventors: Douglas J. Miller, Irwin C. Lewis, Richard L. Shao, Mark Segger
  • Publication number: 20080275150
    Abstract: A carbon foam composite including a carbon foam skeleton having a supplemental material therein, the composite useful for, inter alia, a variety of applications including applications requiring durability and water resistance. Also included is a method for making such carbon foam composite materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Douglas J. Miller, David M. Kaschak, Richard L. Shao
  • Patent number: 7413793
    Abstract: An insulative cap for an induction furnace comprising a carbon foam having a pore distribution such that at least about 90% of the pore volume of the pores have a diameter of between about 10 and about 150 microns and at least about 1% of the pores have a diameter of between about 0.8 and about 3.5 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: GrafTech International Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas J. Miller, Irwin C. Lewis
  • Publication number: 20080063590
    Abstract: A process for producing a graphite article having a CTE of less than about 2.0 ppm/° C. over the temperature range of from 30° C. to 100° C. and an isotropy ratio of less than about 1.5 also advantageously having a thermal shock resistance parameter of greater than about 150×103 W/m in both the with-grain and against-grain directions, and the graphite so produced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventors: Douglas J. Miller, Irwin C. Lewis, David R. Ball
  • Publication number: 20080003167
    Abstract: A method of producing low CTE graphite electrodes from needle coke formed from a coal tar distillate material having a relatively high initial boiling point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2006
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Inventors: Douglas J. Miller, Irwin C. Lewis, Ching-Feng Chang, Richard Thomas Lewis
  • Patent number: 7264878
    Abstract: A laminate sandwich structure useful for, inter alia, decking for naval vessels, which includes a core formed of carbon foam having a ratio of compressive strength to density of at least about 7000 psi/g/cc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: UCAR Carbon Company Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas J. Miller, Irwin C. Lewis, Richard L. Shao
  • Patent number: 7232606
    Abstract: A sealant useful for sealing the surfaces of carbon foams to provide a surface useful for, inter alia, composite tooling or other high temperature applications or for bonding of carbon foams together to form larger blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: UCAR Carbon Company Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Liichang Shao, Douglas J. Miller, Irwin C. Lewis, Robert A. Mercuri
  • Patent number: 6898232
    Abstract: An induction furnace capable of operation at temperatures of over 3100° C. has a cooling assembly (60), which is selectively mounted to an upper end of the furnace wall (76). The cooling assembly includes a dome (62), which is actively cooled by cooling water coils (68). During the cool-down portion of a furnace run, cooling initially proceeds naturally, by conduction of heat away from the hot zone through a furnace insulation layer (58). Once the temperature within the furnace hot zone (20) reaches about 1500° C., a lifting mechanism (80), mounted to the dome, raises a cap (16) of the furnace slightly, allowing hot gases from the hot zone to mix with cooler gas in the dome. This speeds up cooling of the hot zone, reducing cool-down times significantly, without the need for encumbering the furnace itself with valves or other complex cooling mechanisms which have to be replaced periodically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: UCAR Carbon Company Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas J. Miller, Werner H. Ruoff, Allan Webster Intermill, Stephen L. Strong, Thomas R. Thoman, Richard L. Shao
  • Patent number: 6724803
    Abstract: An induction furnace capable of operation at temperatures of over 3100° C. has a cooling assembly (60), which is selectively mounted to an upper end of the furnace wall (76). The cooling assembly includes a dome and a lifting mechanism (80), mounted to the dome, which raises a cap (16) of the furnace slightly, allowing hot gases from the hot zone to mix with cooler gas in the dome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: UCAR Carbon Company Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas J. Miller, Werner H. Ruoff, Allan Webster Intermill, Thomas R. Thoman, Richard L. Shao, Stephen L. Strong
  • Patent number: 6669483
    Abstract: An interactive breast model (100) is disclosed for training lay persons and health care providers to perform effective breast examinations and to locate and identify masses in a breast. The model of the invention comprises a silicone breast model (102) equipped with a data acquisition unit (106) having a plurality of sensors (1002) for detecting displacement in the surface (202) of the breast model during an examination and data acquisition modules (1004) for receiving the sensor output data. The data acquisition unit (106) sends the sensor output to a personal computer (108) for analysis and display to the user (1018). Software (1006) executing on the personal computer performs fuzzy logic algorithms to correlate the sensor output data to usable information regarding the time duration of the examination, finger placement of the user, and the level of displacement throughout the examination. This performance data (1030) is displayed to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: West Virginia University
    Inventors: Victor W. Leight, Susan B. Leight, Roy S. Nutter, Jr., Christy B. Schmidt, Douglas J. Miller
  • Publication number: 20030189965
    Abstract: An induction furnace capable of operation at temperatures of over 3100° C. has a cooling assembly (60), which is selectively mounted to an upper end of the furnace wall (76). The cooling assembly includes a dome (62), which is actively cooled by cooling water coils (68). During the cool-down portion of a furnace run, cooling initially proceeds naturally, by conduction of heat away from the hot zone through a furnace insulation layer (58). Once the temperature within the furnace hot zone (20) reaches about 1500° C., a lifting mechanism (80), mounted to the dome, raises a cap (16) of the furnace slightly, allowing hot gases from the hot zone to mix with cooler gas in the dome. This speeds up cooling of the hot zone, reducing cool-down times significantly, without the need for encumbering the furnace itself with valves or other complex cooling mechanisms which have to be replaced periodically.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Inventors: Douglas J. Miller, Werner H. Ruoff, Allan Webster Intermill, Thomas R. Thoman, Richard L. Shao, Stephen L. Strong
  • Patent number: 6439128
    Abstract: A railway terminal having a parking area, an access restriction system adjacent to the parking area and a railroad track adjacent to the parking area. The access restriction system limits access to said parking area. The railroad track includes a first section, a second section and a loading pad, wherein the first and the second sections each accommodate a plurality of intermodal railcars, each railcar designed to transport a truck trailer, wherein the first section is coupled to a main rail line. The loading pad links the first section of the railroad track to the second section of the railroad track. The loading pad is designed to support tractor-trailers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Canadian Pacific Railway Company
    Inventors: Douglas J. Miller, Alan O. Parry
  • Patent number: 5476679
    Abstract: Method for making a component, graphite component, such as a graphite crucible, for use in the production of silicon crystal growth from molten silicon wherein the graphite component has an outer coated layer of glassy carbon formed from a thermoset organic resin that prevents contamination of the molten silicon by carbon from the graphite component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignee: UCAR Carbon Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Irwin C. Lewis, Terrence A. Pirro, Douglas J. Miller
  • Patent number: 5107437
    Abstract: A process for isostatic molding permitting density of the product being molded to be measured and controlled in-situ. The process is carried out by weighing the mold assembly in the fluid medium within the pressure vessel inclusive and exclusive of the powder charge with the latter weight determined by the difference between the weight of the mold assembly outside of the pressure vessel and its buoyant force in the pressure vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Assignee: UCAR Carbon Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Douglas J. Miller
  • Patent number: 4981929
    Abstract: Highly stereospecific olefin polymers are obtained in enhanced yield in a continuous gas-phase fluid bed process for polymerizing alpha monoolefins employing a catalyst system comprising (a) a solid titanium-containing procatalyst, (b) an organoaluminum activator compound, and (c) a selectivity control agent, by continuously adding dialkylaluminum halide to the reactor during polymerization and conducting polymerization at a temperature of 0.1.degree. to 5.0.degree. C. above the dew point temperature of the cycle gas in the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1991
    Assignee: Union Carbide Chemicals and Plastics Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Fathi D. Hussein, David M. Gaines, Han T. Liu, Douglas J. Miller
  • Patent number: 4822196
    Abstract: A damaged binding post on a telephone wire connecting panel is replaced by a binding post having a threaded stem and a polygonal head adapted to seat freely in a hole in the panel. A retaining nut is screwed on the stem and spaced from the surface of the panel. A bridge is placed over the binding post and each of the next adjacent binding posts and a locking nut is threaded over each of the stems of the adjacent binding posts, to cause the bridge to bow and provide a bias urging the retaining nut downwardly forcing the replacement post to seat in the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1989
    Inventor: Douglas J. Miller
  • Patent number: 4796349
    Abstract: A damaged binding post on a telephone wire connecting panel is replaced by a binding post having a threaded stem and a polygonal head adapted to seat freely in a hole in the panel. A retaining nut is screwed on the stem and spaced from the surface of said panel. A bridge is placed over the binding post and each of the next adjacent binding posts and a locking nut threaded over each of the stems of said adjacent binding posts, to cause said bridge to bow and provide a bias urging the retaining nut downwardly forcing the replacement post to seat in the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1989
    Inventor: Douglas J. Miller