Patents by Inventor Kevin M. McCauley

Kevin M. McCauley 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: 8623975
    Abstract: A process for preparing a polydiene, the process comprising the step of polymerizing conjugated diene monomer in the presence of a dihydrocarbyl ether, where said step of polymerizing takes place within a polymerization mixture that includes less than 20% by weight of organic solvent based on the total weight of the polymerization mixture, and where said step of polymerizing employs a lanthanide-based catalyst system that includes the combination of or reaction product of ingredients including (a) a lanthanide compound, (b) an aluminoxane, (c) an organoaluminum compound other than an aluminoxane, and (d) a bromine-containing compound selected from the group consisting of elemental bromine, bromine-containing mixed halogens, and organic bromides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Luo, Kevin M. McCauley, Jason T. Poulton
  • Publication number: 20130281642
    Abstract: A process for preparing a polydiene, the process comprising the step of polymerizing conjugated diene monomer with a nickel-based catalyst system, where said step of polymerizing takes place within a polymerization mixture that includes less than 20% by weight of organic solvent based on the total weight of the polymerization mixture, where the temperature of the polymerization mixture is maintained below 34° C. during said step of polymerizing, and where the conversion of the conjugated diene monomer is maintained below 30%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin M. McCauley, Steven Luo
  • Publication number: 20130274430
    Abstract: A process for preparing a polydiene, the process comprising the steps of (i) providing conjugated diene monomer; (ii) charging a nickel-based catalyst system to the conjugated diene monomer; and (iii) charging a modulating Lewis base to the conjugated diene monomer, to thereby polymerize the conjugated diene monomer in the presence of the modulating Lewis base, where said step of charging a modulating Lewis base is separate from said step of charging a nickel-based catalyst, and where said steps of providing conjugated diene monomer, charging a nickel-based catalyst system and charging a Lewis base form a polymerization mixture that includes less than 20% by weight of organic solvent based on the total weight of the polymerization mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2011
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Applicant: BRIDGESTONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kevin M. McCauley, Steven Luo
  • Patent number: 8324329
    Abstract: A method for preparing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of (a) polymerizing monomer in the presence of a coordination catalyst to form a polymer, (b) inhibiting said step of polymerizing with a Lewis base, and (c) reacting the polymer with a functionalizing agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Luo, Kevin M. McCauley, Timothy L. Tartamella, Mark W. Smale, Randhir Shetty
  • Publication number: 20120172553
    Abstract: A process for preparing a polydiene, the process comprising the step of polymerizing conjugated diene monomer in the presence of a dihydrocarbyl ether, where said step of polymerizing takes place within a polymerization mixture that includes less than 20% by weight of organic solvent based on the total weight of the polymerization mixture, and where said step of polymerizing employs a lanthanide-based catalyst system that includes the combination of or reaction product of ingredients including (a) a lanthanide compound, (b) an aluminoxane, (c) an organoaluminum compound other than an aluminoxane, and (d) a bromine-containing compound selected from the group consisting of elemental bromine, bromine-containing mixed halogens, and organic bromides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Inventors: Steven Luo, Kevin M. McCauley, Jason T. Poulton
  • Publication number: 20120071583
    Abstract: A method for preparing a polymeric composition, the method comprising providing a polymer cement including a polymer and a solvent; introducing a cold-flow inhibitor with the polymer cement, where the cold-flow inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of vicinal diamides, vicinal diureas and vicinal amide-ureas; and isolating at least a portion of the polymer and the cold-flow inhibitor from the solvent to provide a polymeric composition including the polymer and the cold-flow inhibitor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventors: Toshihiro UCHIYAMA, Christine M. Rademacher, Terrence E. Hogan, Kevin M. McCauley
  • Patent number: 8106117
    Abstract: A method for reducing the cold flow of a polymeric composition of matter by introducing polymer with the combination or reaction product of (i) an acetal or ketal of an alditol and (ii) (a) a hydrocarbylated boric acid, (b) an organoaluminum compound, or (c) both a hydrocarbylated boric acid and an organoaluminum compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin M. McCauley, Terrence E. Hogan, Zbyslaw R. Owczarczyk, Amy M. Randall
  • Patent number: 7977437
    Abstract: A process for preparing a polydiene, the process comprising the step of polymerizing conjugated diene monomer in the presence of a dihydrocarbyl ether, where said step of polymerizing employs a lanthanide-based catalyst system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Inventors: Steven Luo, Kevin M. McCauley, Jason T. Poulton
  • Patent number: 7879958
    Abstract: A method for quenching an active polymerization mixture, the method comprising introducing a polyhydroxy compound to an active polymerization mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Luo, Timothy L. Tartamella, Mark W. Smale, Kevin M. McCauley, Zhong-Ren Chen
  • Patent number: 7825201
    Abstract: A process for preparing a polydiene, the process comprising the step of polymerizing conjugated diene monomer in the presence of a dihydrocarbyl ether, where said step of polymerizing takes place within a polymerization mixture that includes less than 20% by weight of organic solvent based on the total weight of the polymerization mixture, and where said step of polymerizing employs a lanthanide-based catalyst system that includes the combination of or reaction product of ingredients including (a) a lanthanide compound, (b) an aluminoxane, (c) an organoaluminum compound other than an aluminoxane, and (d) a bromine-containing compound selected from the group consisting of elemental bromine, bromine-containing mixed halogens, and organic bromides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Luo, Kevin M. McCauley, Jason T. Poulton
  • Publication number: 20100273963
    Abstract: A process for preparing a polydiene, the process comprising the step of polymerizing conjugated diene monomer in the presence of a dihydrocarbyl ether, where said step of polymerizing employs a lanthanide-based catalyst system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Luo, Kevin M. McCauley, Jason T. Poulton
  • Patent number: 7741418
    Abstract: A process for preparing a polydiene, the process comprising the step of polymerizing conjugated diene monomer in the presence of a dihydrocarbyl ether, where said step of polymerizing employs a lanthanide-based catalyst system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Luo, Kevin M. McCauley, Jason T. Poulton
  • Publication number: 20100036026
    Abstract: A method for reducing the cold flow of a polymeric composition of matter by introducing polymer with the combination or reaction product of (i) an acetal or ketal of an alditol and (ii) (a) a hydrocarbylated boric acid, (b) an organoaluminum compound, or (c) both a hydrocarbylated boric acid and an organoaluminum compound.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventors: Terrence E. Hogan, Kevin M. McCauley, Zbyslaw R. Owczarczyk, Amy M. Randall
  • Publication number: 20090299019
    Abstract: A process for preparing a polydiene, the process comprising the step of polymerizing conjugated diene monomer in the presence of a dihydrocarbyl ether, where said step of polymerizing takes place within a polymerization mixture that includes less than 20% by weight of organic solvent based on the total weight of the polymerization mixture, and where said step of polymerizing employs a lanthanide-based catalyst system that includes the combination of or reaction product of ingredients including (a) a lanthanide compound, (b) an aluminoxane, (c) an organoaluminum compound other than an aluminoxane, and (d) a bromine-containing compound selected from the group consisting of elemental bromine, bromine-containing mixed halogens, and organic bromides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: Steven Luo, Kevin M. McCauley, Jason T. Poulton
  • Patent number: 7572867
    Abstract: There is disclosed a process for producing a conjugated diene-containing polymer wherein a stream comprising conjugated diene monomer and a specified catalyst, that includes a lanthanide compound and an aluminoxane, is passed through an orifice into the reaction zone of a polymerization vessel, maintained under specific pressure conditions to form a cement having a viscosity that allows the cement to be conveyed through a devolatilization zone, where desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy L. Tartamella, Steven Luo, Mark Smale, Kevin M. McCauley
  • Publication number: 20090171046
    Abstract: A process for preparing a polydiene, the process comprising the step of polymerizing conjugated diene monomer in the presence of a dihydrocarbyl ether, where said step of polymerizing employs a lanthanide-based catalyst system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Steven Luo, Kevin M. McCauley, Jason T. Poulton
  • Publication number: 20090043055
    Abstract: A method for quenching an active polymerization mixture, the method comprising introducing a polyhydroxy compound to an active polymerization mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventors: Steven Luo, Timothy L. Tartamella, Mark W. Smale, Kevin M. McCauley, Zhong-Ren Chen
  • Publication number: 20090043046
    Abstract: A method for preparing a functionalized polymer, the method comprising the steps of (a) polymerizing monomer in the presence of a coordination catalyst to form a polymer, (b) inhibiting said step of polymerizing with a Lewis base, and (c) reacting the polymer with a functionalizing agent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventors: Steven Luo, Kevin M. McCauley, Timothy L. Tartamella, Mark W. Smale
  • Publication number: 20080275199
    Abstract: There is disclosed a process for producing a conjugated diene-containing polymer wherein a stream comprising conjugated diene monomer and a specified catalyst, that includes a lanthanide compound and an aluminoxane, is passed through an orifice into the reaction zone of a polymerization vessel, maintained under specific pressure conditions to form a cement having a viscosity that allows the cement to be conveyed through a devolatilization zone, where desired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Inventors: Timothy L. Tartamella, Steven Luo, Mark Smale, Kevin M. McCauley