Patents by Inventor Robert John Klare
Robert John Klare 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: 7771818Abstract: The present invention is a method for modifying at least one property of a porous membrane. The method comprises the steps of providing a porous membrane. The method also includes exposing the membrane to a fluid at supercritical conditions. At least one property of the membrane is modified while the membrane is exposed to the fluid at supercritical conditions. The condition of the fluid is changed in such a manner that the porous membrane retains the modified property. The present invention is also sheet material that is water-resistant, moisture vapor transmissive and air permeable. The sheet material comprises a membrane having an open pore structure including surfaces defining a plurality of interconnecting pores extending through the membrane and between major sides of said membrane in which the pores have an average pore size. The membrane is made from a material tending to absorb oils and contaminating agents.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2002Date of Patent: August 10, 2010Assignee: BHA Group, Inc.Inventors: Robert John Klare, Greg Strugalski
-
Publication number: 20100167100Abstract: A composite membrane includes a compatibilized porous base membrane and an ion exchange material, which is impregnated into the compatibilized porous base membrane. The base membrane is compatibilized by coating a primer to external and internal surfaces of the porous base membrane and crosslinking the primer. A method for making the membrane, a proton exchange membrane for a fuel cell and a method form making the proton exchange membrane are also provided. The composite membrane is durable, compatible, highly conductive and mechanically stable.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 26, 2008Publication date: July 1, 2010Inventors: David Roger Moore, Robert John Klare, James DeYoung
-
Patent number: 7534471Abstract: The present invention is a method for modifying at least one property of a porous membrane. The method comprises the steps of providing a porous membrane. The method also includes exposing the membrane to a fluid at supercritical conditions. At least one property of the membrane is modified while the membrane is exposed to the fluid at supercritical conditions. The condition of the fluid is changed in such a manner that the porous membrane retains the modified property. The present invention is also sheet material that is water-resistant, moisture vapor transmissive and air permeable. The sheet material comprises a membrane having an open pore structure including surfaces defining a plurality of interconnecting pores extending through the membrane and between major sides of said membrane in which the pores have an average pore size. The membrane is made from a material tending to absorb oils and contaminating agents.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2005Date of Patent: May 19, 2009Assignee: BHA Group, Inc.Inventors: Robert John Klare, Greg Strugalski
-
Patent number: 6854603Abstract: A method of treating a membrane comprises the steps of providing a membrane with surfaces that define a plurality of pores extending through the membrane. Providing a dispersion of oleophobic fluoropolymer solids. Stabilizing the dispersion with a stabilizing agent. Diluting the dispersion with a wetting agent. Wetting surfaces which define the pores in the membrane with the diluted and stabilized dispersion. Removing the wetting agent and the stabilizing agent from the membrane. Coalescing the oleophobic fluoropolymer solids of the dispersion on surfaces that define pores in the membrane. A composite membrane comprises a porous membrane having a plurality of interconnecting pores extending through the membrane and made from a material which tends to absorb oils and certain contaminating surfactants. A coating is disposed on surfaces of the nodes and fibrils defining the interconnecting passages in the membrane.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2003Date of Patent: February 15, 2005Assignee: BHA Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Robert John Klare
-
Publication number: 20040059717Abstract: The present invention is a method for modifying at least one property of a porous membrane. The method comprises the steps of providing a porous membrane. The method also includes exposing the membrane to a fluid at supercritical conditions. At least one property of the membrane is modified while the membrane is exposed to the fluid at supercritical conditions. The condition of the fluid is changed in such a manner that the porous membrane retains the modified property. The present invention is also sheet material that is water-resistant, moisture vapor transmissive and air permeable. The sheet material comprises a membrane having an open pore structure including surfaces defining a plurality of interconnecting pores extending through the membrane and between major sides of said membrane in which the pores have an average pore size. The membrane is made from a material tending to absorb oils and contaminating agents.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2002Publication date: March 25, 2004Applicant: BHA Technologies Inc.Inventors: Robert John Klare, Greg Strugalski
-
Patent number: 6676993Abstract: A method of treating a membrane comprises the steps of providing a membrane with surfaces that define a plurality of pores extending through the membrane. Providing a dispersion of oleophobic fluoropolymer solids. Stabilizing the dispersion with a stabilizing agent. Diluting the dispersion with a wetting agent. Wetting surfaces which define the pores in the membrane with the diluted and stabilized dispersion. Removing the wetting agent and the stabilizing agent from the membrane. Coalescing the oleophobic fluoropolymer solids of the dispersion on surfaces that define pores in the membrane. A composite membrane comprises a porous membrane having a plurality of interconnecting pores extending through the membrane and made from a material which tends to absorb oils and certain contaminating surfactants. A coating is disposed on surfaces of the nodes and fibrils defining the interconnecting passages in the membrane.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2001Date of Patent: January 13, 2004Assignee: BHA Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Robert John Klare
-
Publication number: 20040002554Abstract: A method of treating a membrane comprises the steps of providing a membrane with surfaces that define a plurality of pores extending through the membrane. Providing a dispersion of oleophobic fluoropolymer solids. Stabilizing the dispersion with a stabilizing agent. Diluting the dispersion with a wetting agent. Wetting surfaces which define the pores in the membrane with the diluted and stabilized dispersion. Removing the wetting agent and the stabilizing agent from the membrane. Coalescing the oleophobic fluoropolymer solids of the dispersion on surfaces that define pores in the membrane.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2003Publication date: January 1, 2004Applicant: BHA Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Robert John Klare
-
Patent number: 6410084Abstract: A method of treating a membrane (16) comprises the steps of providing a membrane (16) with a structure of node (22) and fibrils (24). Surfaces of the nodes (22) and fibrils (24) define a plurality of pores (26) extending through the membrane (16). The membrane (16) is made from an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene material. A water-based dispersion of oleophobic fluoropolymer solids in a water-soluble solvent is provided. The dispersion has surface tension and relative contact angle properties such that the diluted dispersion is incapable of wetting the polytetrafluoroethylene material of the membrane (16). The dispersion is diluted with a liquid wetting agent so the diluted dispersion can wet the membrane (16). Surfaces of the nodes (22) and fibrils (24) are coated with the solids in the diluted dispersion. The wetting agent material and other fugitive material are removed.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 1999Date of Patent: June 25, 2002Assignee: BHA Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Robert John Klare, David Elliot Chubin
-
Publication number: 20010018096Abstract: A method of treating a membrane comprises the steps of providing a membrane with surfaces that define a plurality of pores extending through the membrane. Providing a dispersion of oleophobic fluoropolymer solids. Stabilizing the dispersion with a stabilizing agent. Diluting the dispersion with a wetting agent. Wetting surfaces which define the pores in the membrane with the diluted and stabilized dispersion. Removing the wetting agent and the stabilizing agent from the membrane. Coalescing the oleophobic fluoropolymer solids of the dispersion on surfaces that define pores in the membrane.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2001Publication date: August 30, 2001Applicant: BHA Technologies Inc.Inventor: Robert John Klare
-
Patent number: 6228477Abstract: A composite membrane (12) comprising a membrane (16) with a structure of nodes (22) connected by fibrils (24). Surfaces of the nodes (22) and fibrils (24) define a plurality of interconnecting pores (26) that extend through the membrane (16) and between major sides (18, 20) of the membrane. The membrane (16) is made from an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene material which tends to tends to absorb oils and certain contaminating agents. The membrane (16) is moisture vapor transmissive, gas permeable and wind and liquid penetration resistant. A coating (28) is disposed on surfaces of the membrane (16) that define the pores (26). The coating (28) is made from an acrylic-based polymer with fluorocarbon side chains. The coating (28) is coalesced on surfaces of the nodes (22) and fibrils (24) to provide oil and certain contaminating agent resistance to the composite membrane (12) without completely blocking the pores (26) in the membrane (16).Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 1999Date of Patent: May 8, 2001Assignee: BHA Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Robert John Klare, David Elliot Chubin