Patents by Inventor Merrill A. Wilson
Merrill A. Wilson 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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Patent number: 10000422Abstract: The present invention provides a ceramic to ceramic joint and methods for making such a joint. Generally, the joint includes a first ceramic part and a second ceramic part, wherein the first and second ceramic parts each include a ceramic-carbide or a ceramic-nitride material. In some cases, an aluminum-initiated joint region joins the first and second ceramic parts. This joint region typically includes chemical species from the first and second ceramic parts that have diffused into the joint region. Additionally, the first and second ceramic parts each typically include a joint diffusion zone that is disposed adjacent to the joint region and which includes aluminum species from the joint region that have diffused into the joint diffusion zone. Other implementations are also described.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2015Date of Patent: June 19, 2018Assignee: CoorsTek, Inc.Inventors: Joseph R Fellows, Merrill Wilson
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Patent number: 9873101Abstract: An apparatus and method for enhancing the yield and purity of hydrogen when reforming hydrocarbons is disclosed in one embodiment of the invention as including receiving a hydrocarbon feedstock fuel (e.g., methane, vaporized methanol, natural gas, vaporized diesel, etc.) and steam at a reaction zone and reacting the hydrocarbon feedstock fuel and steam in the presence of a catalyst to produce hydrogen gas. The hydrogen gas is selectively removed from the reaction zone while the reaction is occurring by selectively diffusing the hydrogen gas through a porous ceramic membrane. The selective removal of hydrogen changes the equilibrium of the reaction and increases the amount of hydrogen that is extracted from the hydrocarbon feedstock fuel.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2015Date of Patent: January 23, 2018Assignee: CERAMATEC, INC.Inventors: Joseph J. Hartvigsen, Balakrishnan Nair, Merrill Wilson, Akash Akash
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Publication number: 20150259253Abstract: The present invention provides a ceramic to ceramic joint and methods for making such a joint. Generally, the joint includes a first ceramic part and a second ceramic part, wherein the first and second ceramic parts each include a ceramic-carbide or a ceramic-nitride material. In some cases, an aluminum-initiated joint region joins the first and second ceramic parts. This joint region typically includes chemical species from the first and second ceramic parts that have diffused into the joint region. Additionally, the first and second ceramic parts each typically include a joint diffusion zone that is disposed adjacent to the joint region and which includes aluminum species from the joint region that have diffused into the joint diffusion zone. Other implementations are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2015Publication date: September 17, 2015Inventors: Joseph R Fellows, Merrill Wilson
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Patent number: 9073787Abstract: The present invention provides a ceramic to ceramic joint and methods for making such a joint. Generally, the joint includes a first ceramic part and a second ceramic part, wherein the first and second ceramic parts each include a ceramic-carbide or a ceramic-nitride material. In some cases, an aluminum-initiated joint region joins the first and second ceramic parts. This joint region typically includes chemical species from the first and second ceramic parts that have diffused into the joint region. Additionally, the first and second ceramic parts each typically include a joint diffusion zone that is disposed adjacent to the joint region and which includes aluminum species from the joint region that have diffused into the joint diffusion zone. Other implementations are also described.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2011Date of Patent: July 7, 2015Assignee: CERAMATEC, INC.Inventors: Fellows Joseph, Merrill Wilson
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Publication number: 20150174548Abstract: An apparatus and method for enhancing the yield and purity of hydrogen when reforming hydrocarbons is disclosed in one embodiment of the invention as including receiving a hydrocarbon feedstock fuel (e.g., methane, vaporized methanol, natural gas, vaporized diesel, etc.) and steam at a reaction zone and reacting the hydrocarbon feedstock fuel and steam in the presence of a catalyst to produce hydrogen gas. The hydrogen gas is selectively removed from the reaction zone while the reaction is occurring by selectively diffusing the hydrogen gas through a porous ceramic membrane. The selective removal of hydrogen changes the equilibrium of the reaction and increases the amount of hydrogen that is extracted from the hydrocarbon feedstock fuel.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2015Publication date: June 25, 2015Inventors: Joseph J. Hartvigsen, Balakrishnan Nair, Merrill Wilson, Akash Akash
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Patent number: 8961625Abstract: An apparatus and method for enhancing the yield and purity of hydrogen when reforming hydrocarbons is disclosed in one embodiment of the invention as including receiving a hydrocarbon feedstock fuel (e.g., methane, vaporized methanol, natural gas, vaporized diesel, etc.) and steam at a reaction zone and reacting the hydrocarbon feedstock fuel and steam in the presence of a catalyst to produce hydrogen gas. The hydrogen gas is selectively removed from the reaction zone while the reaction is occurring by selectively diffusing the hydrogen gas through a porous ceramic membrane. The selective removal of hydrogen changes the equilibrium of the reaction and increases the amount of hydrogen that is extracted from the hydrocarbon feedstock fuel.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2007Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Ceramatec, Inc.Inventors: Joseph J. Hartvigsen, Balakrishnan G. Nair, Merrill Wilson, Akash Akash
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Patent number: 8350190Abstract: A ceramic electrode for a gliding electric arc system. The ceramic electrode includes a ceramic fin defining a spine, a heel, and a tip. A discharge edge of the ceramic fin defines a diverging profile approximately from the heel of the ceramic fin to the tip of the ceramic fin. A mounting surface coupled to the ceramic fin facilitates mounting the ceramic fin within the gliding electric arc system. One or more ceramic electrodes may be used in the gliding electric arc system or other systems which at least partially oxidize a combustible material.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2008Date of Patent: January 8, 2013Assignee: Ceramatec, Inc.Inventors: Joseph J. Hartvigsen, Michele Hollist, S. Elangovan, Piotr Czernichowski, Merrill Wilson
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Publication number: 20120267996Abstract: A ceramic electrode for a gliding electric arc system. The ceramic electrode includes a ceramic fin defining a spine, a heel, and a tip. A discharge edge of the ceramic fin defines a diverging profile approximately from the heel of the ceramic fin to the tip of the ceramic fin. A mounting surface coupled to the ceramic fin facilitates mounting the ceramic fin within the gliding electric arc system. One or more ceramic electrodes may be used in the gliding electric arc system or other systems which at least partially oxidize a combustible material.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2008Publication date: October 25, 2012Inventors: Joseph J. Hartvigsen, Michele Hollist, S. Elangovan, Piotr Czernichowski, Merrill Wilson
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Publication number: 20110288648Abstract: The present invention provides a ceramic to ceramic joint and methods for making such a joint. Generally, the joint includes a first ceramic part and a second ceramic part, wherein the first and second ceramic parts each include a ceramic-carbide or a ceramic-nitride material. In some cases, an aluminum-initiated joint region joins the first and second ceramic parts. This joint region typically includes chemical species from the first and second ceramic parts that have diffused into the joint region. Additionally, the first and second ceramic parts each typically include a joint diffusion zone that is disposed adjacent to the joint region and which includes aluminum species from the joint region that have diffused into the joint diffusion zone. Other implementations are also described.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2011Publication date: November 24, 2011Inventors: Fellows Joseph, Merrill Wilson
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Publication number: 20090301648Abstract: An apparatus for laying tape on a workpiece. The apparatus includes a constellation frame and a first tape-laying head comprising a first compaction roller attached to constellation frame such that the first compaction roller can have a five axis motion with respect to the constellation frame. A second tape-laying head comprising a second compaction roller may be attached to the constellation frame such that the second compaction roller can have a five axis motion with respect to the constellation frame that is independent of the motion of the first tape-laying head.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2008Publication date: December 10, 2009Inventors: Merrill Wilson Hogg, Allen Bradley Hagen
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Publication number: 20080085236Abstract: Planar ceramic membrane assembly comprising a dense layer of mixed-conducting multi-component metal oxide material, wherein the dense layer has a first side and a second side, a porous layer of mixed-conducting multi-component metal oxide material in contact with the first side of the dense layer, and a ceramic channeled support layer in contact with the second side of the dense layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2007Publication date: April 10, 2008Applicant: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.Inventors: Michael Carolan, Paul Dyer, Kathryn Dyer, Merrill Wilson, Theodore Ohrn, Kurt Kneidel, David Peterson, Christopher Chen, Keith Rackers
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Publication number: 20070137478Abstract: An ion transport membrane system comprising (a) a pressure vessel having an interior, an exterior, an inlet, and an outlet; (b) a plurality of planar ion transport membrane modules disposed in the interior of the pressure vessel and arranged in series, each membrane module comprising mixed metal oxide ceramic material and having an interior region and an exterior region, wherein any inlet and any outlet of the pressure vessel are in flow communication with exterior regions of the membrane modules; and (c) one or more gas manifolds in flow communication with interior regions of the membrane modules and with the exterior of the pressure vessel. The ion transport membrane system may be utilized in a gas separation device to recover oxygen from an oxygen-containing gas or as an oxidation reactor to oxidize compounds in a feed gas stream by oxygen permeated through the mixed metal oxide ceramic material of the membrane modules.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2007Publication date: June 21, 2007Inventors: VanEric Stein, Michael Carolan, Christopher Chen, Phillip Armstrong, Harold Wahle, Theodore Ohrn, Kurt Kneidel, Keith Rackers, James Blake, Shankar Nataraj, Rene Hendrik Elias van Doom, Merrill Wilson
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Publication number: 20060197264Abstract: Method of making an electrochemical device for the recovery of oxygen from an oxygen-containing feed gas comprising (a) preparing a green electrochemical device by assembling a green electrolyte layer, a green anode layer in contact with the green electrolyte layer, a green cathode layer in contact with the green electrolyte layer, a green anode-side gas collection interconnect layer in contact with the green anode layer, and a green cathode-side feed gas distribution interconnect layer in contact with the green cathode layer; and (b) sintering-the green electrochemical device by heating to yield a sintered electrochemical device comprising a plurality of sintered layers including a sintered anode-side gas collection interconnect layer in contact with the anode layer and adapted to collect oxygen permeate gas, wherein each sintered layer is bonded to an adjacent sintered layer during sintering.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2005Publication date: September 7, 2006Inventors: Raymond Cutler, Kent Hutchings, Merrill Wilson, Ronald Hollis, Dale Taylor
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Patent number: 6858174Abstract: A process for producing ceramic, or ceramic composite, components having microfeatures by creating a chemical reaction in a castable slurry to bond nano-sized or submicron-sized ceramic powders. The bonding process that gives coherency and strength to the material creates a reaction product or gel-phase resulting from a chemical reaction between the ceramic powder and a reagent, such as an acid, alkali, or inorganic salt solution, that binds the ceramic powder. This gel-phase can be de-hydrated, cured, or crystallized by a higher-temperature firing step, but at a temperature lower than the temperature range at which sintering starts to occur in the ceramic (typically lower than 1,000°C.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2002Date of Patent: February 22, 2005Assignee: Ceramatec, Inc.Inventors: Balakrishnan G. Nair, Merrill A. Wilson, Shekar Balagopal
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Publication number: 20050031531Abstract: An ion transport membrane system comprising (a) a pressure vessel having an interior, an exterior, an inlet, and an outlet; (b) a plurality of planar ion transport membrane modules disposed in the interior of the pressure vessel and arranged in series, each membrane module comprising mixed metal oxide ceramic material and having an interior region and an exterior region, wherein any inlet and any outlet of the pressure vessel are in flow communication with exterior regions of the membrane modules; and (c) one or more gas manifolds in flow communication with interior regions of the membrane modules and with the exterior of the pressure vessel. The ion transport membrane system may be utilized in a gas separation device to recover oxygen from an oxygen-containing gas or as an oxidation reactor to oxidize compounds in a feed gas stream by oxygen permeated through the mixed metal oxide ceramic material of the membrane modules.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2003Publication date: February 10, 2005Inventors: VanEric Edward Stein, Michael Carolan, Christopher Chen, Phillip Armstrong, Harold Wahle, Theodore Ohrn, Kurt Kneidel, Keith Rackers, James Blake, Shankar Nataraj, Rene Hendrik Elias van Doom, Merrill Wilson
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Publication number: 20040043204Abstract: A process for producing ceramic, or ceramic composite, components having micro-features by creating a chemical reaction in a castable slurry to bond nano-sized or sub-micron-sized ceramic powders. The bonding process that gives coherency and strength to the material creates a reaction product or gel-phase resulting from a chemical reaction between the ceramic powder and a reagent, such as an acid, alkali, or inorganic salt solution, that binds the ceramic powder. This gel-phase can be de-hydrated, cured, or crystallized by a higher-temperature firing step, but at a temperature lower than the temperature range at which sintering starts to occur in the ceramic (typically lower than 1,000° C.).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2002Publication date: March 4, 2004Inventors: Balakrishnan G. Nair, Merrill A. Wilson
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Patent number: 5599383Abstract: Tubular solid-state membrane modules for separating oxygen from an oxygen-containing gaseous mixture which provide improved pneumatic and structural integrity and ease of manifolding. The modules are formed from a plurality of tubular membrane units, each membrane unit which comprises a channel-free porous support having connected through porosity which is in contact with a contiguous dense mixed conducting oxide layer having no connected through porosity. The dense mixed conducting oxide layer is placed in flow communication with the oxygen-containing gaseous mixture to be separated and the channel-free porous support of each membrane unit is placed in flow communication with one or more manifolds or conduits for discharging oxygen which has been separated from the oxygen-containing gaseous mixture by permeation through the dense mixed conducting oxide layer of each membrane unit and passage into the manifolds or conduits via the channel-free porous support of each membrane unit.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 1995Date of Patent: February 4, 1997Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Paul N. Dyer, Jeffrey D. Bright, Michael F. Carolan, Eric Minford, Robin E. Richards, Steven L. Russek, Dale M. Taylor, Merrill A. Wilson
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Patent number: 5338623Abstract: An electrochemical device is disclosed comprising a plurality of electrolytic cells, each having an oxygen ion-conducting electrolyte, an anode and a cathode associated with the electrolyte, conductive interconnecting structures electrically connecting the anode of each electrolytic cell to the cathode of an adjacent tubular cell, and sealing means positioned between the interconnecting structure and the electrolytic cells to provide a gas-tight seal therebetween. The configuration of the interconnecting structure and the placement of the seal means provides a separation between the seal and the conductive pathway of electrons between the anode and cathode to prevent corrosion or deterioration of the seal thereby compromising the pneumatic integrity of the device.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 1992Date of Patent: August 16, 1994Assignee: Ceramatec, Inc.Inventors: Jesse A. Nachlas, Dale M. Taylor, Merrill A. Wilson