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).

  • Patent number: 10000422
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: CoorsTek, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph R Fellows, Merrill Wilson
  • Patent number: 9873101
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: CERAMATEC, INC.
    Inventors: Joseph J. Hartvigsen, Balakrishnan Nair, Merrill Wilson, Akash Akash
  • Publication number: 20150259253
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventors: Joseph R Fellows, Merrill Wilson
  • Patent number: 9073787
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: CERAMATEC, INC.
    Inventors: Fellows Joseph, Merrill Wilson
  • Publication number: 20150174548
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: Joseph J. Hartvigsen, Balakrishnan Nair, Merrill Wilson, Akash Akash
  • Patent number: 8961625
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ceramatec, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph J. Hartvigsen, Balakrishnan G. Nair, Merrill Wilson, Akash Akash
  • Patent number: 8350190
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Ceramatec, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph J. Hartvigsen, Michele Hollist, S. Elangovan, Piotr Czernichowski, Merrill Wilson
  • Publication number: 20120267996
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventors: Joseph J. Hartvigsen, Michele Hollist, S. Elangovan, Piotr Czernichowski, Merrill Wilson
  • Publication number: 20110288648
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventors: Fellows Joseph, Merrill Wilson
  • Publication number: 20090301648
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Merrill Wilson Hogg, Allen Bradley Hagen
  • Publication number: 20080085236
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2007
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Applicant: AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC.
    Inventors: Michael Carolan, Paul Dyer, Kathryn Dyer, Merrill Wilson, Theodore Ohrn, Kurt Kneidel, David Peterson, Christopher Chen, Keith Rackers
  • Publication number: 20070137478
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Publication date: June 21, 2007
    Inventors: 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
  • Publication number: 20060197264
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Publication date: September 7, 2006
    Inventors: Raymond Cutler, Kent Hutchings, Merrill Wilson, Ronald Hollis, Dale Taylor
  • Patent number: 6858174
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Ceramatec, Inc.
    Inventors: Balakrishnan G. Nair, Merrill A. Wilson, Shekar Balagopal
  • Publication number: 20050031531
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2003
    Publication date: February 10, 2005
    Inventors: 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
  • Publication number: 20040043204
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Publication date: March 4, 2004
    Inventors: Balakrishnan G. Nair, Merrill A. Wilson
  • Patent number: 5599383
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: 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
  • Patent number: 5338623
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Ceramatec, Inc.
    Inventors: Jesse A. Nachlas, Dale M. Taylor, Merrill A. Wilson