Patents by Inventor Kenneth H. Wetmore

Kenneth H. Wetmore 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: 6013375
    Abstract: Forming apparatus (22) and a method for forming a glass sheet ribbon G delivered from a float tank (44) to a topside support device (74) having a downwardly facing surface to which a vacuum and pressurized gas are supplied to support the glass sheet ribbon (G) at its upper surface (52) while a coater (78) applies a coating (80) to its lower surface (54). Another coater (86) applies a coating (88) to the upper surface (52) of the glass sheet ribbon G. A coated glass sheet (32) cut from the glass sheet ribbon G has at least one surface, and as disclosed both of its surfaces (52,54), coated so as to be protected from deterioration caused by exposure to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Glasstech, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Maltby, Jr., Michael J. Vild, Kenneth H. Wetmore
  • Patent number: 5876474
    Abstract: Forming apparatus (22) and a method for forming a glass sheet ribbon G delivered from a float tank (44) to a topside support device (74) having a downwardly facing surface to which a vacuum and pressurized gas are supplied to support the glass sheet ribbon (G) at its upper surface (52) while a coater (78) applies a coating (80) to its lower surface (54). Another coater (86) applies a coating (88) to the upper surface (52) of the glass sheet ribbon G. A coated glass sheet (32) cut from the glass sheet ribbon G has at least one surface, and as disclosed both of its surfaces (52,54), coated so as to be protected from deterioration caused by exposure to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Glasstech, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Maltby, Jr., Michael J. Vild, Kenneth H. Wetmore
  • Patent number: 5873675
    Abstract: Apparatus (10) and a method for vitrifying hazardous waste includes a melting vessel (12) in which hazardous waste and any other necessary components for forming a glassy mixture upon heating are introduced for heating by a heater (38), and a metallic containment vessel (46) of the apparatus receives the melting vessel so as to receive and contain any material that exits the melting vessel upon failure. A voltage is applied across spaced electrical connections (72) of the melting vessel (46) to heat material within the melting vessel. Any failure of the melting vessel (12) is detected by a sensor (48). Different embodiments of the heater (38) provide current flow through molten material (18) being heated, induction heating, electric resistance heating, and using the metallic mixing vessel (12) as an electric resistance element. A stirrer (39) can be utilized to mix the material (18) during the heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Stir-Melter, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth H. Wetmore, Kenneth R. Kormanyos, Stephen F. Cox
  • Patent number: 5762674
    Abstract: Forming apparatus (22) and a method for forming a glass sheet ribbon G delivered from a float tank (44) to a topside support device (74) having a downwardly facing surface to which a vacuum and pressurized gas are supplied to support the glass sheet ribbon (G) at its upper surface (52) while a coater (78) applies a coating (80) to its lower surface (54). Another coater (86) applies a coating (88) to the upper surface (52) of the glass sheet ribbon G. A coated glass sheet (32) cut from the glass sheet ribbon G has at least one surface, and as disclosed both of its surfaces (52,54), coated so as to be protected from deterioration caused by exposure to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Glasstech, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Maltby, Jr., Michael J. Vild, Kenneth H. Wetmore
  • Patent number: 5711635
    Abstract: Apparatus (10) and a method for vitrifying hazardous waste includes a melting vessel (12) in which hazardous waste and any other necessary components for forming a glassy mixture upon heating are introduced for heating by a heater (38), and a metallic containment vessel (46) of the apparatus receives the melting vessel so as to receive and contain any material that exits the melting vessel upon failure. A voltage is applied across spaced electrical connections (72) of the melting vessel (46) to heat material within the melting vessel. Any failure of the melting vessel (12) is detected by a sensor (48). A stirrer (39) can be utilized to mix the material (18) during the heating. The containment vessel (46) is preferably hermetically sealed around the melting vessel (12) to contain gases as well as any melted material received from the failed melting vessel (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Stir-Melter, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth H. Wetmore, Kenneth R. Kormanyos, Stephen F. Cox
  • Patent number: 5647833
    Abstract: Apparatus (10) and a method for vitrifying hazardous waste includes a melting vessel (12) in which a stirrer (38) mixes hazardous waste and any other necessary components for forming a glassy mixture upon heating while an electrical current is applied across the melting vessel and the stirrer to provide electrical current flow, and a metallic containment vessel (46) of the apparatus receives the melting vessel so as to receive and contain any material that exits the melting vessel upon failure. Any failure of the melting vessel (12) is detected by a sensor (48). The containment vessel (46) is preferably hermetically sealed around the melting vessel (12) to contain gases as well as any melted material received from the failed melting vessel (12). The sensing of the failure can be either by a pressure change in the hermetically sealed chamber (58) or by sensing of the presence of material received by the containment vessel (46) from the failed melting vessel (12) such as by an electrical circuit type detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: Stir-Melter, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth H. Wetmore, Kenneth R. Kormanyos, Stephen F. Cox
  • Patent number: 5603684
    Abstract: Apparatus (10) and a method for vitrifying hazardous waste includes a melting vessel (12) in which hazardous waste and any other necessary components for forming a glassy mixture upon heating are introduced for heating by a heater (38), and a metallic containment vessel (46) of the apparatus receives the melting vessel so as to receive and contain any material that exits the melting vessel upon failure. Any failure of the melting vessel (12) is detected by a sensor (48). Different embodiments of the heater (38) provide current flow through molten material (18) being heated, induction heating and electric resistance heating. A stirrer (39) can be utilized to mix the material (18) during the heating. The containment vessel (46) is preferably hermetically sealed around the melting vessel (12) to contain gases as well as any melted material received from the failed melting vessel (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1997
    Assignee: Stir-Melter, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth H. Wetmore, Kenneth R. Kormanyos, Stephen F. Cox
  • Patent number: 5562363
    Abstract: Apparatus (10) and a method for vitrifying hazardous waste includes a melting vessel (12) in which a stirrer (38) mixes hazardous waste and any other necessary components for forming a glassy mixture upon heating while an electrical current is applied across the melting vessel and the stirrer to provide electrical current flow, and a metallic containment vessel (46) of the apparatus receives the melting vessel so as to receive and contain any material that exits the melting vessel upon failure. Any failure of the melting vessel (12) is detected by a sensor (48). The containment vessel (46) is hermetically sealed around the melting vessel (12) to contain gases as well as any melted material received from the failed melting vessel (12). The sensing of the failure can be either by a pressure change in the hermetically sealed chamber (58) or by sensing of the presence of material received by the containment vessel (46) from the failed melting vessel (12) such as by an electrical circuit type detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Stir-Melter, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth H. Wetmore, Kenneth R. Kormanyos, Stephen F. Cox
  • Patent number: 5536114
    Abstract: Apparatus (10) and a method for vitrifying hazardous waste includes a melting vessel (12) in which hazardous waste and any other necessary components for forming a glassy mixture upon heating are introduced for heating by a heater (38), and a metallic containment vessel (46) of the apparatus receives the melting vessel so as to receive and contain any material that exits the melting vessel upon failure. Any failure of the melting vessel (12) is detected by a sensor (48). Different embodiments of the heater (38) provide current flow through molten material (18) being heated, induction heating and electric resistance heating. A stirrer (39) can be utilized to mix the material (18) during the heating. The containment vessel (46) is preferably hermetically sealed around the melting vessel (12) to contain gases as well as any melted material received from the failed melting vessel (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: Stir-Melter, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth H. Wetmore, Kenneth R. Kormanyos, Stephen F. Cox
  • Patent number: 5529594
    Abstract: The mineral fiber forming apparatus having electrodes for heating heat softenable mineral material to form a molten mineral mass is disclosed. Organically-coated glass fiber scrap and cullet are supplied to the vessel providing the heat softenable mineral material. An impeller turbulently mixes the molten mineral mass dispersing batch into the molten mineral mass and converting water in the molten mineral bath to steam. Molten mineral material formed by the apparatus includes small seeds and gaseous occlusions. The molten mineral material is fed from an outlet port in the vessel to a rotary spinner which forms hollow mineral fibers having gaseous occlusions of between 1% and 10% by volume by centrifuging the molten mineral material through a rotary bushing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Stir-Melter, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth H. Wetmore, Ray S. Richards