Patents by Inventor James C. McMillen

James C. McMillen 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: 11753345
    Abstract: Systems and methods for making ceramic powders are provided. The method for forming a ceramic powder includes: preparing a precursor mixture, wherein the preparing comprises adding at least one additive to a plurality of reagents, wherein the at least one additive includes at least one of: an oxide, a salt, a pure metal, or an alloy of elements ranging from atomic numbers 21 through 30, 39 through 51, and 57 through 77 and combinations thereof; and carbothermically reacting the precursor mixture to form a ceramic powder, wherein, due to the preparing step, the precursor mixture comprises a sufficient amount of the at least one additive to form the ceramic powder, wherein the ceramic powder comprises: (a) a morphology selected from the group consisting of irregular, equiaxed, plate-like, and combinations thereof; and (b) a particle size distribution selected from the group consisting of fine, intermediate, coarse, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: ALCOA USA CORP.
    Inventors: James C. McMillen, Lance M. Sworts, Benjamin D. Mosser
  • Publication number: 20210355037
    Abstract: Systems and methods for making ceramic powders configured with consistent, tailored characteristics and/or properties are provided herein. In some embodiments a system for making ceramic powders, includes: a reactor body having a reaction chamber and configured with a heat source to provide a hot zone along the reaction chamber; a sweep gas inlet configured to direct a sweep gas into the reaction chamber and a sweep gas outlet configured to direct an exhaust gas from the reaction chamber; a plurality of containers, within the reactor body, configured to retain at least one preform, wherein each container is configured to permit the sweep gas to flow therethrough, wherein the preform is configured to permit the sweep gas to flow there through, such that the precursor mixture is reacted in the hot zone to form a ceramic powder product having uniform properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Inventors: James C. McMillen, Lance M. Sworts, Benjamin D. Mosser, Charles Robert Shanta, III
  • Patent number: 11078124
    Abstract: Systems and methods for making ceramic powders configured with consistent, tailored characteristics and/or properties are provided herein. In some embodiments a system for making ceramic powders, includes: a reactor body having a reaction chamber and configured with a heat source to provide a hot zone along the reaction chamber; a sweep gas inlet configured to direct a sweep gas into the reaction chamber and a sweep gas outlet configured to direct an exhaust gas from the reaction chamber; a plurality of containers, within the reactor body, configured to retain at least one preform, wherein each container is configured to permit the sweep gas to flow therethrough, wherein the preform is configured to permit the sweep gas to flow there through, such that the precursor mixture is reacted in the hot zone to form a ceramic powder product having uniform properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: ALCOA USA CORP.
    Inventors: James C. McMillen, Lance M. Sworts, Benjamin D. Mosser, Charles Robert Shanta, III
  • Publication number: 20190135703
    Abstract: Systems and methods for making ceramic powders configured with consistent, tailored characteristics and/or properties are provided herein. In some embodiments a system for making ceramic powders, includes: a reactor body having a reaction chamber and configured with a heat source to provide a hot zone along the reaction chamber; a sweep gas inlet configured to direct a sweep gas into the reaction chamber and a sweep gas outlet configured to direct an exhaust gas from the reaction chamber; a plurality of containers, within the reactor body, configured to retain at least one preform, wherein each container is configured to permit the sweep gas to flow therethrough, wherein the preform is configured to permit the sweep gas to flow there through, such that the precursor mixture is reacted in the hot zone to form a ceramic powder product having uniform properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2019
    Publication date: May 9, 2019
    Inventors: James C. McMillen, Lance M. Sworts, Benjamin D. Mosser, Charles Robert Shanta, III
  • Publication number: 20190127282
    Abstract: Systems and methods for making ceramic powders are provided. The method for forming a ceramic powder includes: preparing a precursor mixture, wherein the preparing comprises adding at least one additive to a plurality of reagents, wherein the at least one additive includes at least one of: an oxide, a salt, a pure metal, or an alloy of elements ranging from atomic numbers 21 through 30, 39 through 51, and 57 through 77 and combinations thereof; and carbothermically reacting the precursor mixture to form a ceramic powder, wherein, due to the preparing step, the precursor mixture comprises a sufficient amount of the at least one additive to form the ceramic powder, wherein the ceramic powder comprises: (a) a morphology selected from the group consisting of irregular, equiaxed, plate-like, and combinations thereof; and (b) a particle size distribution selected from the group consisting of fine, intermediate, coarse, and combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Publication date: May 2, 2019
    Inventors: James C. McMillen, Lance M. Sworts, Benjamin D. Mosser
  • Publication number: 20180029886
    Abstract: In various embodiments set forth herein, methods of making boron nitride ceramic powder are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventor: James C. McMillen
  • Publication number: 20180009717
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a ceramic armor product includes: a ceramic powder; an at least one metal-based additive; and a density of 4.3-4.7 g/cc, wherein the ceramic armor product is substantially lacking grain orientation. In some embodiments, a ceramic armor product, includes: a ceramic powder, wherein the ceramic powder is titanium diboride (TiB2); an at least one metal-based additive, wherein the at least one metal based additive comprises elements ranging from atomic numbers 21 through 30, 39 through 51, and 57 through 77; and a density of 4.3-4.7 g/cc, wherein the ceramic armor product is substantially lacking grain orientation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: Benjamin D. Mosser, James C. McMillen, William Wolf, Lance M. Sworts, Artemas Steere
  • Patent number: 9822016
    Abstract: A method to recycle TiB2 articles, and in particular, a method to recycle a TiB2 feedstock including TiB2 articles and Ti-ore and/or Ti-slag by chlorination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Alcoa USA Corp.
    Inventors: Mark L. Weaver, Andrew L. Schnitgen, Robert A. DiMilia, Frankie A. Phelps, James C. McMillen
  • Patent number: 9802829
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards methods of making titanium diboride products in various sizes. An aspect of the method provides (a) selecting a target average particle size for a target titanium diboride product; (b) selecting at least one processing variable from the group consisting of: an amount of sulfur, an inert gas flow rate, a soak time, and a reaction temperature; (c) selecting a condition of the processing variable based upon the target average particle size; and (d) producing an actual titanium diboride product having an actual average particle size using the at least one processing variable, wherein due to the at least one processing variable, the actual average particle size corresponds to the target average particle size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Alcoa USA Corp.
    Inventor: James C. McMillen
  • Publication number: 20170036919
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards methods of making titanium diboride products in various sizes. An aspect of the method provides (a) selecting a target average particle size for a target titanium diboride product; (b) selecting at least one processing variable from the group consisting of: an amount of sulfur, an inert gas flow rate, a soak time, and a reaction temperature; (c) selecting a condition of the processing variable based upon the target average particle size; and (d) producing an actual titanium diboride product having an actual average particle size using the at least one processing variable, wherein due to the at least one processing variable, the actual average particle size corresponds to the target average particle size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Publication date: February 9, 2017
    Inventor: James C. McMillen
  • Publication number: 20160052795
    Abstract: A method to recycle TiB2 articles, and in particular, a method to recycle a TiB2 feedstock including TiB2 articles and Ti-ore and/or Ti-slag by chlorination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Mark L. Weaver, Andrew L. Schnitgen, Robert A. DiMilia, Frankie A. Phelps, James C. McMillen
  • Patent number: 9181101
    Abstract: A method to recycle TiB2 articles, and in particular, a method to recycle a TiB2 feedstock including TiB2 articles and Ti-ore and/or Ti-slag by chlorination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventors: Mark L. Weaver, Andrew L. Schnitgen, Robert A. DiMilia, Frankie A. Phelps, James C. McMillen
  • Publication number: 20150218055
    Abstract: In one aspect of the instant disclosure, a setter plate assembly to sinter green titanium dioxide forms, such as aluminum smelting cathodes made by multiple forming methods is produced. The assembly is itself formed from sintered titanium diboride. The open area of the assembly and vents allow off-gassing during settering to producing a sintered product with reduced contamination. The setter plate assembly is made principally from titanium diboride, which is chemically compatible with green titanium dioxide forms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Inventors: James C. McMillen, Jason Bick
  • Publication number: 20130330256
    Abstract: A method to recycle TiB2 articles, and in particular, a method to recycle a TiB2 feedstock including TiB2 articles and Ti-ore and/or Ti-slag by chlorination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventors: Mark L. Weaver, Andrew L. Schnitgen, Robert A. DiMilia, Frankie A. Phelps, James C. McMillen
  • Publication number: 20130251595
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards methods of making titanium diboride products in various sizes. An aspect of the method provides (a) selecting a target average particle size for a target titanium diboride product; (b) selecting at least one processing variable from the group consisting of: an amount of sulfur, an inert gas flow rate, a soak time, and a reaction temperature; (c) selecting a condition of the processing variable based upon the target average particle size; and (d) producing an actual titanium diboride product having an actual average particle size using the at least one processing variable, wherein due to the at least one processing variable, the actual average particle size corresponds to the target average particle size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Inventor: James C. McMillen, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20120244057
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards methods of making titanium diboride products in various sizes. An aspect of the method provides (a) selecting a target average particle size for a target titanium diboride product; (b) selecting at least one processing variable from the group consisting of: an amount of sulfur, an inert gas flow rate, a soak time, and a reaction temperature; (c) selecting a condition of the processing variable based upon the target average particle size; and (d) producing an actual titanium diboride product having an actual average particle size using the at least one processing variable, wherein due to the at least one processing variable, the actual average particle size corresponds to the target average particle size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: ALCOA INC.
    Inventor: James C. McMillen
  • Patent number: 8216536
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards methods of making titanium diboride products in various sizes. An aspect of the method provides (a) selecting a target average particle size for a target titanium diboride product; (b) selecting at least one processing variable from the group consisting of: an amount of sulfur, an inert gas flow rate, a soak time, and a reaction temperature; (c) selecting a condition of the processing variable based upon the target average particle size; and (d) producing an actual titanium diboride product having an actual average particle size using the at least one processing variable, wherein due to the at least one processing variable, the actual average particle size corresponds to the target average particle size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventor: James C. McMillen
  • Publication number: 20110104033
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed towards methods of making titanium diboride products in various sizes. An aspect of the method provides (a) selecting a target average particle size for a target titanium diboride product; (b) selecting at least one processing variable from the group consisting of: an amount of sulfur, an inert gas flow rate, a soak time, and a reaction temperature; (c) selecting a condition of the processing variable based upon the target average particle size; and (d) producing an actual titanium diboride product having an actual average particle size using the at least one processing variable, wherein due to the at least one processing variable, the actual average particle size corresponds to the target average particle size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: ALCOA INC.
    Inventor: James C. McMillen
  • Patent number: 4892017
    Abstract: A fuel system adjustment tool includes an elongated shaft and a rotatable rod disposed within the shaft. At one end of the rod is a drive that operably fits to an adjustment point on a carburetor. At the other end is a rotatable knob that produces a tactile engagement or clicking sensation at selected degrees of rotation, preferably every 180 degrees of rotation. The engagement is produced by a collar having a notch therein on the end of the shaft, and spring loaded balls in recesses on the interior of the knob. As the knob is rotated, one of the balls falls into the notch at the selected degree of rotation, but is releasable from the notch upon further rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1990
    Inventors: T. W. Kennedy, James C. McMillen