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).

  • Publication number: 20150354033
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2014
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Donald F. Susan, James R. McElhanon, Thomas E. Buchheit, Jordan E. Massad, John R. DeBassige, Donald R. Bradley, Mark Reece, Ronald D. Noebe
  • Patent number: 8802444
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: James R. McElhanon, Timothy J. Shepodd
  • Patent number: 8247554
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: James R. McElhanon, Timothy J. Shepodd
  • Patent number: 7622596
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 7595349
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 7449579
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: James R. McElhanon, Timothy J. Shepodd
  • Patent number: 7378533
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 7358221
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory M. Jamison, David R. Wheeler, Douglas A. Loy, Blake A. Simmons, Timothy M. Long, James R. McElhanon, Kamyar Rahimian, Chad L. Staiger
  • Patent number: 7351837
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 7022861
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Sandia National Laboratories
    Inventors: 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
  • Patent number: 6820496
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Sandia National Laboratories
    Inventors: James R. McElhanon, Thomas Zifer, LeRoy L. Whinnery
  • Publication number: 20030205092
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2003
    Publication date: November 6, 2003
    Inventors: James R. McElhanon, Thomas Zifer, LeRoy L. Whinnery
  • Patent number: 6403753
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas A. Loy, David R. Wheeler, James R. McElhanon, Randall S. Saunders
  • Patent number: 6337384
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas A. Loy, David R. Wheeler, Edward M. Russick, James R. McElhanon, Randall S. Saunders
  • Patent number: 6271335
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: James H. Small, Douglas A. Loy, David R. Wheeler, James R. McElhanon, Randall S. Saunders