Patents by Inventor James R. McElhanon
James R. McElhanon 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).
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Publication number: 20150354033Abstract: Shape memory alloys containing Ni, Ti, and Pt or Pd display superelastic behavior. The superelasticity was shown in a range of temperatures around the austenite finish shape memory transformation temperature. The superelasticity range was approximately 210-280° C. for these alloys. Shape memory alloys that exhibit superelasticity at high temperatures will enable a new class of mechanical sensors and actuators.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2014Publication date: December 10, 2015Inventors: Donald F. Susan, James R. McElhanon, Thomas E. Buchheit, Jordan E. Massad, John R. DeBassige, Donald R. Bradley, Mark Reece, Ronald D. Noebe
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Patent number: 8802444Abstract: A “real time” method for detecting chemical agents generally and particularly electrophilic and nucleophilic species by employing tunable, precursor sensor materials that mimic the physiological interaction of these agents to form highly florescent berberine-type alkaloids that can be easily and rapidly detected. These novel precursor sensor materials can be tuned for reaction with both electrophilic (chemical species, toxins) and nucleophilic (proteins and other biological molecules) species. By bonding or otherwise attaching these precursor molecules to a surface or substrate they can be used in numerous applications.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2012Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: James R. McElhanon, Timothy J. Shepodd
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Patent number: 8247554Abstract: A “real time” method for detecting chemical agents generally and particularly electrophilic and nucleophilic species by employing tunable, precursor sensor materials that mimic the physiological interaction of these agents to form highly florescent berberine-type alkaloids that can be easily and rapidly detected. These novel precursor sensor materials can be tuned for reaction with both electrophilic (chemical species, toxins) and nucleophilic (proteins and other biological molecules) species. By bonding or otherwise attaching these precursor molecules to a surface or substrate they can be used in numerous applications.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2007Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: James R. McElhanon, Timothy J. Shepodd
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Patent number: 7622596Abstract: Two new surfactant molecules are reported which contain thermally labile Diels-Alder adducts connecting the polar and non-polar sections of each molecule. The two surfactants possess identical non-polar dodecyl tail segments but exhibit different polar headgroups. The surfactants become soluble in water when anionic salts are formed through the deprotonation of the surfactant headgroups by the addition of potassium hydroxide. When either surfactant is exposed to temperature above about 60° C., the retro Diels-Alder reaction occurs, yielding hydrophilic and hydrophobic fragments or the aqueous solutions of the surfactants subsequently exhibit loss of all surface-active behavior.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2006Date of Patent: November 24, 2009Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: James R. McElhanon, Blake A. Simmons, Thomas Zifer, Gregory M. Jamison, Douglas A. Loy, Kamyar Rahimian, Timothy M. Long, David R. Wheeler, Chad L. Staiger
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Patent number: 7595349Abstract: Two new surfactant molecules are reported which contain thermally labile Diels-Alder adducts connecting the polar and non-polar sections of each molecule. The two surfactants possess identical non-polar dodecyl tail segments but exhibit different polar headgroups. The surfactants become soluble in water when anionic salts are formed through the deprotonation of the surfactant headgroups by the addition of potassium hydroxide. When either surfactant is exposed to temperature above about 60° C., the retro Diels-Alder reaction occurs, yielding hydrophilic and hydrophobic fragments or the aqueous solutions of the surfactants subsequently exhibit loss of all surface-active behavior.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2006Date of Patent: September 29, 2009Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: James R. McElhanon, Blake A. Simmons, Thomas Zifer, Gregory M. Jamison, Douglas A. Loy, Kamyar Rahimian, Timothy M. Long, David R. Wheeler, Chad L. Staiger
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Patent number: 7449579Abstract: A “real time” method for detecting electrophilic and nucleophilic species generally by employing tunable, precursor sensor materials that mimic the physiological interaction of these agents to form highly florescent berberine-type alkaloids that can be easily and rapidly detected. These novel precursor sensor materials can be tuned for reaction with both electrophilic (chemical species, toxins) and nucleophilic (proteins and other biological molecules) species.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2006Date of Patent: November 11, 2008Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: James R. McElhanon, Timothy J. Shepodd
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Patent number: 7378533Abstract: The present invention describes surfactants of formula (I), wherein R, RN, and m are defined herein, processes for their preparation, and methods for their decomposition.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2006Date of Patent: May 27, 2008Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: James R. McElhanon, Gregory M. Jamison, Timothy M. Long, Douglas A. Loy, Kamyar Rahimian, Blake A. Simmons, Chad L. Staiger, David R. Wheeler, Thomas Zifer
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Patent number: 7358221Abstract: A class of surfactant molecules whose structure includes regularly spaced unsaturation in the tail group and thus, can be readily decomposed by ring-closing metathesis, and particularly by the action of a transition metal catalyst, to form small molecule products. These small molecules are designed to have increased volatility and/or enhanced solubility as compared to the original surfactant molecule and are thus easily removed by solvent extraction or vacuum extraction at low temperature. By producing easily removable decomposition products, the surfactant molecules become particularly desirable as template structures for preparing meso- and microstructural materials with tailored properties.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2006Date of Patent: April 15, 2008Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Gregory M. Jamison, David R. Wheeler, Douglas A. Loy, Blake A. Simmons, Timothy M. Long, James R. McElhanon, Kamyar Rahimian, Chad L. Staiger
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Patent number: 7351837Abstract: The present invention describes surfactants of formula (I), wherein R, RN, and m are defined herein, processes for their preparation, and methods for their decomposition.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2006Date of Patent: April 1, 2008Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: James R. McElhanon, Gregory M. Jamison, Timothy M. Long, Douglas A. Loy, Kamyar Rahimian, Blake A. Simmons, Chad L. Staiger, David R. Wheeler, Thomas Zifer
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Patent number: 7022861Abstract: Two new surfactant molecules are reported which contain thermally labile Diels-Alder adducts connecting the polar and non-polar sections of each molecule. The two surfactants possess identical non-polar dodecyl tail segments but exhibit different polar headgroups. The surfactants become soluble in water when anionic salts are formed through the deprotonation of the surfactant headgroups by the addition of potassium hydroxide. When either surfactant is exposed to temperature above about 60° C., the retro Diels-Alder reaction occurs, yielding hydrophilic and hydrophobic fragments and the aqueous solutions of the surfactants subsequently exhibit loss of all surface-active behavior.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2004Date of Patent: April 4, 2006Assignee: Sandia National LaboratoriesInventors: James R. McElhanon, Blake A. Simmons, Thomas Zifer, Gregory M. Jamison, Douglas A. Loy, Kamyar Rahimian, Timothy M. Long, David R. Wheeler, Chad L. Staiger
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Patent number: 6820496Abstract: There is provided a light emitting device comprising a plurality of triboluminescent particles dispersed throughout an elastomeric body and activated by deforming the body in order to transfer mechanical energy to some portion of the particles. The light emitted by these mechanically excited particles is collected and directed into a light conduit and transmitted to a detector/indicator means.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2003Date of Patent: November 23, 2004Assignee: Sandia National LaboratoriesInventors: James R. McElhanon, Thomas Zifer, LeRoy L. Whinnery
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Publication number: 20030205092Abstract: There is provided a light emitting device comprising a plurality of triboluminescent particles dispersed throughout an elastomeric body and activated by deforming the body in order to transfer mechanical energy to some portion of the particles. The light emitted by these mechanically excited particles is collected and directed into a light conduit and transmitted to a detector/indicator means.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2003Publication date: November 6, 2003Inventors: James R. McElhanon, Thomas Zifer, LeRoy L. Whinnery
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Patent number: 6403753Abstract: A method of making a thermally-removable polyurethane material by heating a mixture of a maleimide compound and a furan compound, and introducing alcohol and isocyanate functional groups, where the alcohol group and the isocyanate group reacts to form the urethane linkages and the furan compound and the maleimide compound react to form the thermally weak Diels-Alder adducts that are incorporated into the backbone of the urethane linkages during the formation of the polyurethane material at temperatures from above room temperature to less than approximately 90° C. The polyurethane material can be easily removed within approximately an hour by heating to temperatures greater than approximately 90° C. in a polar solvent. The polyurethane material can be used in protecting electronic components that may require subsequent removal of the solid material for component repair, modification or quality control.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2001Date of Patent: June 11, 2002Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Douglas A. Loy, David R. Wheeler, James R. McElhanon, Randall S. Saunders
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Patent number: 6337384Abstract: A method of making a thermally-removable epoxy by mixing a bis(maleimide) compound to a monomeric furan compound containing an oxirane group to form a di-epoxy mixture and then adding a curing agent at temperatures from approximately room temperature to less than approximately 90° C. to form a thermally-removable epoxy. The thermally-removable epoxy can be easily removed within approximately an hour by heating to temperatures greater than approximately 90° C. in a polar solvent. The epoxy material can be used in protecting electronic components that may require subsequent removal of the solid material for component repair, modification or quality control.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2000Date of Patent: January 8, 2002Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Douglas A. Loy, David R. Wheeler, Edward M. Russick, James R. McElhanon, Randall S. Saunders
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Patent number: 6271335Abstract: A method of making a thermally-removable encapsulant by heating a mixture of at least one bis(maleimide) compound and at least one monomeric tris(furan) or tetrakis(furan) compound at temperatures from above room temperature to less than approximately 90° C. to form a gel and cooling the gel to form the thermally-removable encapsulant. The encapsulant can be easily removed within approximately an hour by heating to temperatures greater than approximately 90° C., preferably in a polar solvent. The encapsulant can be used in protecting electronic components that may require subsequent removal of the encapsulant for component repair, modification or quality control.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2000Date of Patent: August 7, 2001Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: James H. Small, Douglas A. Loy, David R. Wheeler, James R. McElhanon, Randall S. Saunders