Patents by Inventor Lawrence J. Rhoades

Lawrence J. Rhoades 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: 20100044903
    Abstract: An apparatus provides a method for transferring infiltrant to a 3D printed article comprising the steps of (i) calculating the amount of infiltrant based in part upon the particulars of the 3D printed articles; (ii) dispensing the calculated amount of infiltrant to a scale from an infiltrant dispenser through a controller; (iii) weighing the dispensed infiltrant during the dispensing; providing the controller with a signal of the weighed dispensed infiltrant; and (iv) automatically stopping the infiltrant dispenser through the controller as the weighed infiltrant reaches the calculated amount of infiltrant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: The ExOne Company
    Inventors: Lawrence J. Rhoades, Anita Hancox, John Y.P. Rhoades
  • Publication number: 20090239303
    Abstract: Ultrasonic machining is used to fabricate at least a portion of patterned surfaces that are used directly or indirectly for guided tissue generation. Tissues may be cultivated directly in the patterned surfaces or the patterned surfaces may be used as molds for polymer tissue scaffolds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventors: Lawrence J. Rhoades, James Randall Gilmore
  • Publication number: 20080206460
    Abstract: Methods are disclosed for forming a metal substructure that will subsequently be overcoated with ceramic layers to create a dental restoration. The methods involve the steps of providing a metal powder and applying the metal powder to a die and sintering the metal powder to form a solid structure that may be used as a coping. The application of the metal powder is done in a controlled fashion while minimizing the amount of necessary handwork. These application methods include: (a) alternatingly applying an adhesive and a metal powder to the selected portion of the die surface; and (b) forming the metal powder into a viscous slurry or slip and then dipping the die therein or spraying or pouring the slurry or slip onto the selected portion of the die surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventors: Lawrence J. Rhoades, John Y.P. Rhoades
  • Patent number: 7255631
    Abstract: An abrasive flow apparatus for polishing a workpiece wherein a horizontal machine tool is adapted such that a workpiece may be secured to first shaft rotatable about a first longitudinal axis. A conjugate form to the workpiece may be secured to a second shaft which is rotatable about a second longitudinal axis. The workpiece and conjugate form are secured to each shaft in a manner such that they are facing one another and slightly set apart to define a gap. A flowable abrasive media is introduced within this gap. The centerlines of the workpiece and the conjugate form are offset from one another such that rotation of the shafts in the same direction and at the same rotational speed produces relative motion between the workpiece and the conjugate form thereby polishing the workpiece. A slide may be used for axially positioning the first shaft and the second shaft a predetermined distance to define the size of the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Extrude Hone Corporation
    Inventor: Lawrence J. Rhoades
  • Patent number: 7182675
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for abrading the inner surface at the intersection region of a branch outlet with the wall of a body having a passageway. Using abrasive flow machining, it is possible to abrade the intersection region to provide a smooth transition between the wall and the branch outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Extrude Hone Corporation
    Inventor: Lawrence J. Rhoades
  • Patent number: 7044842
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for abrading the inner surface at the intersection region of a branch outlet with the wall of a body having a passageway. Using abrasive flow machining, it is possible to abrade the intersection region to provide a smooth transition between the wall and the branch outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Extrude Hone Corporation
    Inventor: Lawrence J. Rhoades
  • Patent number: 6953387
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for comparing the flow rate through an orifice within a master part with the orifice within a workpiece by subjecting each orifice to an identical fluid at an identical temperature, under an identical pressure, and comparing the downstream pressures of the fluid exiting these orifices when the upstream pressure is constant or comparing the upstream pressure when the downstream pressure is constant. For purely measurement purposes, the fluid may be a non-abrasive media, however, in the event the workpiece orifice must be machined, it is possible to introduce a flowable abrasive media, and pass this media through the orifices until the desired pressure difference is achieved. With additional flow characteristics of the master part, it is also possible to calculate the flow rate through the workpiece orifice using only the pressure differential at the exits of the workpiece and the master part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Extrude Hone Corporation
    Inventors: John M. Greenslet, Lawrence J. Rhoades
  • Patent number: 6918937
    Abstract: The present invention is based on the practice of abrasive machining with no sealed working chamber by the employment of a visco-elastic abrasive medium, behaving predominantly as an elastic solid at the applied strain of the orbital working motion, and applying orbital or other relative working motion to produce strain rates which bring the medium into a predominantly elastic deformation and often near, but not to exceed, the compressive stress limit at the strain rate employed. The preferred visco-elastic abrasive medium is a rheopectic poly(boro-siloxane) filled with viscosity increasing stiffening agents and high loadings of the abrasive of choice and relatively mono amounts of plasticizers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Extrude Hone Corporation
    Inventors: James Randall Gilmore, Lawrence J. Rhoades
  • Patent number: 6701529
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an energy absorbent medium which is compliant and conformable in the absence of an applied force, and stiffens in response to the rate of an applied force to dissipate energy. The medium comprises a blend of a polymer and a lubricant incompatible with the polymer to produce a conformable absorbent which exhibits dilatant (shear thickening) characteristics under high rates of force or stress. The polymer has reformable sacrificial chemical bonds which are broken under a high rate of deformation and which reform under static conditions. Suitable polymers for the invention include polyborosiloxanes. Applications for the medium include absorbent for sports padding, athletic equipment, motor vehicle seats, bulletproof vests, medical equipment, industrial equipment, weaponry, and playing fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Extrude Hone Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence J. Rhoades, John M. Matechen, Mark J. Rosner
  • Patent number: 6645056
    Abstract: A method for producing, from a blank, restrictive tooling for use in an orbital polishing machine involves urging one of either the workpiece or the blank along a predetermined path against the other to physically impart a proportioned contour of the workpiece into the blank, thereby producing the restrictive tooling. Using this method, the same orbital polishing machine may be used to produce the restrictive tooling and to subsequently polish the workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: Extrude Hone Corporation
    Inventors: James Randall Gilmore, Lawrence J. Rhoades
  • Publication number: 20030087588
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for abrading the inner surface at the intersection region of a branch outlet with the wall of a body having a passageway. Using abrasive flow machining, it is possible to abrade the intersection region to provide a smooth transition between the wall and the branch outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Applicant: Extrude Hone Corporation
    Inventor: Lawrence J. Rhoades
  • Patent number: 6544110
    Abstract: The present invention is based on the practice of abrasive machining with no sealed working chamber by the employment of a visco-elastic abrasive medium, behaving predominantly as an elastic solid at the applied strain of the orbital working motion, and applying orbital or other relative working motion to produce strain rates which bring the medium into a predominantly elastic deformation and often near, but not to exceed, the compressive stress limit at the strain rate employed. The preferred visco-elastic abrasive medium is a rheopectic poly(boro-siloxane) filled with viscosity increasing stiffening agents and high loadings of the abrasive of choice and relatively mono amounts of plasticizers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Extrude Hone Corporation
    Inventors: James Randall Gilmore, Lawrence J. Rhoades
  • Patent number: 6503126
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for abrading the inner surface at the intersection region of a branch outlet with the wall of a body having a passageway. Using abrasive flow machining, it is possible to abrade the intersection region to provide a smooth transition between the wall and the branch outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Extrude Hone Corporation
    Inventor: Lawrence J. Rhoades
  • Publication number: 20020007600
    Abstract: The present invention is based on the practice of abrasive machining with no sealed working chamber by the employment of a visco-elastic abrasive medium, behaving predominantly as an elastic solid at the applied strain of the orbital working motion, and applying orbital or other relative working motion to produce strain rates which bring the medium into a predominantly elastic deformation and often near, but not to exceed, the compressive stress limit at the strain rate employed. The preferred visco-elastic abrasive medium is a rheopectic poly(boro-siloxane) filled with viscosity increasing stiffening agents and high loadings of the abrasive of choice and relatively mono amounts of plasticizers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Publication date: January 24, 2002
    Inventors: James Randall Gilmore, Lawrence J. Rhoades
  • Publication number: 20020009956
    Abstract: The present invention is based on the practice of abrasive machining with no sealed working chamber by the employment of a visco-elastic abrasive medium, behaving predominantly as an elastic solid at the applied strain of the orbital working motion, and applying orbital or other relative working motion to produce strain rates which bring the medium into a predominantly elastic deformation and often near, but not to exceed, the compressive stress limit at the strain rate employed. The preferred visco-elastic abrasive medium is a rheopectic poly(boro-siloxane) filled with viscosity increasing stiffening agents and high loadings of the abrasive of choice and relatively minor amounts of plasticizers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Publication date: January 24, 2002
    Inventors: James Randall Gilmore, Lawrence J. Rhoades
  • Patent number: 6288154
    Abstract: Abrasive jet stream polishing, wherein an abrasive is suspended in a flowable jet medium and projected at high velocity and pressure at a workpiece is provide, where the jet is projected at the surface to be polished at an oblique angle. The method is substantially improved by forming the medium of a polymer having reformable sacrificial chemical bonds which are preferentially broken under high shear conditions. Projecting the medium and suspended abrasive breaks the reformable sacrificial chemical bonds while polishing. The chemical bonds will reform, permitting recycling of the medium and abrasive for reuse in the method. The jet is effective at relatively low pressures of about 5 to about 80 MPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Extrude Hone Corporation
    Inventor: Lawrence J. Rhoades
  • Patent number: 6273787
    Abstract: The present invention is based on the practice of abrasive machining with no sealed working chamber by the employment of a visco-elastic abrasive medium, behaving predominantly as an elastic solid at the applied strain of the orbital working motion, and applying orbital or other relative working motion to produce strain rates which bring the medium into a predominantly elastic deformation and often near, but not to exceed, the compressive stress limit at the strain rate employed. The preferred visco-elastic abrasive medium is a rheopectic poly(boro-siloxane) filled with viscosity increasing stiffening agents and high loadings of the abrasive of choice and relatively minor amounts of plasticizers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Inventors: James Randall Gilmore, Lawrence J. Rhoades
  • Patent number: 5964644
    Abstract: Abrasive jet stream polishing, wherein an abrasive is suspended in a flowable jet medium and projected at high velocity and pressure at a workpiece is provide, where the jet is projected at the surface to be polished at an oblique angle. The method is substantially improved by forming the medium of a polymer having reformable sacrificial chemical bonds which are preferentially broken under high shear conditions. Projecting the medium and suspended abrasive breaks the reformable sacrificial chemical bonds while polishing. The chemical bonds will reform, permitting recycling of the medium and abrasive for reuse in the method. The jet is effective at relatively low pressures of about 5 to about 80 MPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Extrude Hone Corporation
    Inventor: Lawrence J. Rhoades
  • Patent number: 5735335
    Abstract: Investment casting molds, and particularly mold cores, are formed of sintered ceramics to near net shape and are then machined to net shape, dimensions and surface finish, by ultrasonic machining with formed tools having the final configuration in mirror image form. Form machining of fired mold shells and cores is rapid, precise, readily controlled, and can produce castings of exceptional accuracy of shape, dimensions and surface finish.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Extrude Hone Corporation
    Inventors: James Randall Gilmore, Lawrence J. Rhoades
  • Patent number: 5679058
    Abstract: Abrasive jet stream cutting, wherein an abrasive is suspended in a flowable jet medium (64) and projected at high velocity and pressure (75) at a workpiece (76) is substantially improved by forming the medium of a polymer having reformable sacrificial chemical bonds which are preferentially broken under high shear conditions. Projecting the medium and suspended abrasive breaks the reformable sacrificial chemical bonds while cutting. The chemical bonds will reform, permitting recycling of the medium and abrasive for reuse in the method. The jet is effective at pressures of about 14 to 80 MPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: Extrude Hone Corporation
    Inventor: Lawrence J. Rhoades