Patents by Inventor Scott R. Culler

Scott R. Culler 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: 20190092990
    Abstract: Abrasive particles comprising shaped abrasive particles each having a sidewall, each of the shaped abrasive particles comprising alpha alumina and having a first face and a second face separated by a sidewall and having a maximum thickness, T; and the shaped abrasive particles further comprising a plurality of grooves on the second face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: John T. Boden, Dwight D. Erickson, Scott R. Culler, Negus B. Adefris, John D. Haas
  • Publication number: 20190091835
    Abstract: The method generally involves the steps of filling the cavities in a production tool each with an individual abrasive particle. Aligning a filled production tool and a resin coated backing for transfer of the abrasive particles to the resin coated backing. Transferring the abrasive particles from the cavities onto the resin coated backing and removing the production tool from the aligned position with the resin coated backing. Thereafter the resin layer is cured, a size coat is applied and cured and the coated abrasive article is converted to sheet, disk, or belt form by suitable converting equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Scott R. Culler, John T. Boden, Steven J. Keipert, Negus B. Adefris
  • Publication number: 20180223145
    Abstract: Abrasive particles comprising shaped abrasive particles each having a sidewall, each of the shaped abrasive particles comprising alpha alumina and having a first face and a second face separated by a sidewall and having a maximum thickness, T; and the shaped abrasive particles further comprising a plurality of grooves on the second face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: John T. Boden, Dwight D. Erickson, Scott R. Culler, Negus B. Adefris, John D. Haas
  • Patent number: 10005171
    Abstract: A method of making abrasive particles includes exposing ceramic particles to an organosilane-derived plasma formed from components comprising an organosilane and oxygen to form plasma-modified ceramic particles; and contacting a coupling agent with the second plasma-treated ceramic particle to provide the abrasive particle. Abrasive particles preparable by the method and abrasive particles containing them are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Scott R. Culler, Moses M. David, Maiken Givot, Piotr S. Stach
  • Patent number: 10000677
    Abstract: A method includes: providing a mold having a plurality of mold cavities, wherein each mold cavity is bounded by a plurality of faces joined along common edges; filling at least some of the mold cavities with a sol-gel composition that includes a release agent dispersed therein; at least partially drying the sol-gel composition thereby forming shaped ceramic precursor particles; calcining at least a portion of the shaped ceramic precursor particles to provide calcined shaped ceramic precursor particles; and sintering at least a portion of the calcined shaped ceramic precursor particles to provide ceramic shaped abrasive particles. A sol-gel composition, shaped ceramic precursor particles, and ceramic shaped abrasive particles associated with practice of the method are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: John T. Boden, Scott R. Culler, Dwight D. Erickson
  • Patent number: 9938439
    Abstract: Abrasive particles comprising shaped abrasive particles each having a sidewall, each of the shaped abrasive particles comprising alpha alumina and having a first face and a second face separated by a sidewall and having a maximum thickness, T; and the shaped abrasive particles further comprising a plurality of grooves on the second face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: John T. Boden, Dwight D. Erickson, Scott R. Culler, Negus B. Adefris, John D. Haas
  • Patent number: 9890309
    Abstract: Abrasive particles comprising shaped abrasive particles each having a sidewall, each of the shaped abrasive particles comprising alpha alumina and having a first face and a second face separated by a sidewall and having a maximum thickness, T; and the shaped abrasive particles further comprising a plurality of grooves on the second face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: John T. Boden, Dwight D. Erickson, Scott R. Culler, Negus B. Adefris, John D. Haas
  • Publication number: 20180010026
    Abstract: A method includes: providing a mold having a plurality of mold cavities, wherein each mold cavity is bounded by a plurality of faces joined along common edges; filling at least some of the mold cavities with a sol-gel composition that includes a release agent dispersed therein; at least partially drying the sol-gel composition thereby forming shaped ceramic precursor particles; calcining at least a portion of the shaped ceramic precursor particles to provide calcined shaped ceramic precursor particles; and sintering at least a portion of the calcined shaped ceramic precursor particles to provide ceramic shaped abrasive particles. A sol-gel composition, shaped ceramic precursor particles, and ceramic shaped abrasive particles associated with practice of the method are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: John T. Boden, Scott R. Culler, Dwight D. Erickson
  • Patent number: 9849563
    Abstract: An abrasive article comprises abrasive particles adhered to a substrate by a binder material comprising an at least partially cured resole phenolic resin and an aliphatic tack modifier. The amount of resole phenolic resin comprises from 60 to 98 weight percent of the combined weight of the resole phenolic resin and the aliphatic tack modifier. A method of making the abrasive article is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Ernest L. Thurber, Rebecca A. Putans, Scott R. Culler, John T. Boden, Brian G. Koethe, Brant A. Moegenburg, Thomas J. Nelson, Aaron K. Nienaber, Wayne W. Maurer, Ibrahim A. El-Hedok, Albert I. Everaerts, Joseph B. Eckel, Mahfuza B. Ali
  • Publication number: 20170312887
    Abstract: An abrasive belt having a backing and an abrasive layer adhered to the backing by a make coat resin and the abrasive layer comprising a plurality of shaped abrasive particles. A first belt side and a second belt side opposing the first belt side with the first and second belt sides generally aligned with a longitudinal axis of the grinding belt. The belt having at least 30% of the shaped abrasive particles in the abrasive layer having a first face and placed onto the backing such that an angle between the first face and the longitudinal axis is greater than 0 degrees and less than or equal to 20 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Steven J. Keipert, Scott R. Culler, John T. Boden
  • Patent number: 9790410
    Abstract: A method includes: providing a mold having a plurality of mold cavities, wherein each mold cavity is bounded by a plurality of faces joined along common edges; filling at least some of the mold cavities with a sol-gel composition that includes a release agent dispersed therein; at least partially drying the sol-gel composition thereby forming shaped ceramic precursor particles; calcining at least a portion of the shaped ceramic precursor particles to provide calcined shaped ceramic precursor particles; and sintering at least a portion of the calcined shaped ceramic precursor particles to provide ceramic shaped abrasive particles. A sol-gel composition, shaped ceramic precursor particles, and ceramic shaped abrasive particles associated with practice of the method are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: John T. Boden, Scott R. Culler
  • Publication number: 20170252898
    Abstract: Methods of making abrasive articles involve adhering shaped abrasive particles to a reinforcing member according to a predetermined pattern and optionally orientation, and depositing a space-filling binder precursor on the reinforcing member and shaped abrasive particles to provide a filled abrasive preform, disposing another reinforcing member onto the filled abrasive preform, and curing the abrasive article precursor to form the abrasive articles. In some aspects, multiple abrasive preforms are stacked on each other. Bonded abrasive wheels preparable according to the methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Publication date: September 7, 2017
    Inventors: Melissa C. Schillo-Armstrong, Scott R. Culler, Brian D. Goers, Roger J. Eicheldinger, Negus B. Adefris
  • Publication number: 20170225299
    Abstract: The method generally involves the steps of filling the cavities in a production tool each with an individual abrasive particle. Aligning a filled production tool and a resin coated backing for transfer of the abrasive particles to the resin coated backing. Transferring the abrasive particles from the cavities onto the resin coated backing and removing the production tool from the aligned position with the resin coated backing. Thereafter the resin layer is cured, a size coat is applied and cured and the coated abrasive article is converted to sheet, disk, or belt form by suitable converting equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2015
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Steven J. Keipert, John T. Boden, Scott R. Culler
  • Publication number: 20170129075
    Abstract: An abrasive article comprises abrasive particles adhered to a substrate by a binder material comprising an at least partially cured resole phenolic resin and an aliphatic tack modifier. The amount of resole phenolic resin comprises from 60 to 98 weight percent of the combined weight of the resole phenolic resin and the aliphatic tack modifier. A method of making the abrasive article is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Ernest L. Thurber, Rebecca A. Putans, Scott R. Culler, John T. Boden, Brian G. Koethe, Brant A. Moegenburg, Thomas J. Nelson, Aaron K. Nienaber, Wayne W. Maurer, Ibrahim A. El-Hedok, Albert I. Everaerts, Joseph B. Eckel, Mahfuza B. Ali
  • Patent number: 9527768
    Abstract: A process for making inorganic, metal oxide spheres that includes exposing solidified, molded microparticles that include a glass precursor composition to a temperature sufficient to transform the molded microparticles into molten glass and cooling the molten glass to form inorganic, metal oxide spheres.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: David C. Kramlich, John L. Vandenberg, Matthew H. Frey, Scott R. Culler, Kathleen M. Schakel-Carlson
  • Publication number: 20160311084
    Abstract: The method generally involves the steps of filling the cavities in a production tool each with an individual abrasive particle. Aligning a filled production tool and a resin coated backing for transfer of the abrasive particles to the resin coated backing. Transferring the abrasive particles from the cavities onto the resin coated backing and removing the production tool from the aligned position with the resin coated backing. Thereafter the resin layer is cured, a size coat is applied and cured and the coated abrasive article is converted to sheet, disk, or belt form by suitable converting equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Scott R. Culler, John T. Boden, Steven J. Keipert, Negus B. Adefris
  • Publication number: 20160311081
    Abstract: A coated abrasive article maker apparatus including a first web path guiding a production tool such that it wraps a portion of the outer circumference of an abrasive particle transfer roll; a second web path for a resin coated backing guiding the resin coated backing such that it wraps a portion of the outer circumference of the abrasive particle transfer roll with the resin layer positioned facing the dispensing surface of the production tool this is positioned between the resin coated backing and the outer circumference of the abrasive particle transfer roll; and wherein abrasive particles are transferred from cavities in the production tool to the resin coated backing as the resin coated backing and the production tool traverse around the abrasive particle transfer roll
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventors: Scott R. Culler, John T. Boden, Steven J. Keipert, Negus B. Adefris, Karan Jindal, Aaron K. Nienaber, David L. Morrison, Peter T. Benson, Pratik Pranay, Bradford B. Wright
  • Publication number: 20160279762
    Abstract: Structured abrasive articles include a backing and shaped abrasive composites secured to the backing. The shaped abrasive composites include abrasive grits dispersed in a binder matrix. The shaped abrasive composites include a bottom surface and a top surface opposite and not contacting the bottom surface, and at least three sidewalls abutting both the bottom and top surfaces and two other sidewalls. In one embodiment, at least two cusps are formed by the top surface and individual sidewalls. In another embodiment, the top surface includes at least two triangular facets that contact at least two respective sidewalls and at least two cusps. The top surface includes at least one interior recessed portion nearer the cusps than the bottom surface. Methods of abrading a workpiece using the structured abrasive article are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventors: John D. Haas, Negus B. Adefris, Scott R. Culler
  • Patent number: 9446502
    Abstract: Precursor alpha alumina abrasive particles in a mold are subjected to a drying process that cracks or fractures at least a majority of the precursor abrasive particles into at least two pieces thereby producing abrasive shards having a smaller size than the mold cavity from which they were made. The smaller abrasive shards, once formed, could be reassembled like jigsaw puzzle pieces to reproduce the original cavity shape of the mold from which they were made. The cracking or fracturing of the precursor abrasive particles is believed to occur by ensuring that the surface tension of the abrasive dispersion to the walls of the mold is greater than the internal attractive forces of the abrasive dispersion as the abrasive dispersion is dried within the mold cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Dwight D. Erickson, Scott R. Culler, Negus B. Adefris, John T. Boden, John D. Haas
  • Publication number: 20160249495
    Abstract: Electrically conductive articles are provided, including a composite including (a) a resin, and (b) electrically conductive shaped particles distributed in the resin, the particles having a monosized distribution. Each particle has a shape including at least a first surface and a second surface intersecting the first surface at an angle a between about 5 degrees and about 150 degrees. The composite has a thickness and often each of the electrically conductive shaped particles distributed in the resin is oriented within the resin such that the particle does not extend beyond the thickness of the composite. A method for making an electrically conductive article is also provided, including (a) providing electrically conductive shaped particles having a monosized distribution, and (b) distributing the particles into a resin to form a composite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventors: Dipankar Ghosh, Jeffrey W. McCutcheon, Scott R. Culler