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: 20160193717
    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: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventors: Scott R. Culler, Moses M. David, Maiken Givot, Piotr S. Stach
  • Publication number: 20150299033
    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: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: David C. Kramlich, John L. Vandenberg, Matthew H. Frey, Scott R. Culler, Kathleen M. Schakel-Carlson
  • Patent number: 9108874
    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: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: David C. Kramlich, John L. Vandenberg, Matthew H. Frey, Scott R. Culler, Kathleen M. Schakel-Carlson
  • Patent number: 8845773
    Abstract: Abrasive particles which are shaped abrasive particles each with an opening are described. The shaped abrasive particles are formed from alpha alumina and have a first face and a second face separated by a thickness t. The opening in each of the shaped abrasive particles can improve grinding performance by reducing the size of a resulting wear flat, can provide a reservoir for grinding aid, and can improve adhesion to a backing in a coated abrasive article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Dwight D. Erickson, Scott R. Culler, Negus B. Adefris, John T. Boden, John D. Haas
  • Publication number: 20140239148
    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: May 6, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: John T. Boden, Dwight D. Erickson, Scott R. Culler, Negus B. Adefris, John D. Haas
  • Publication number: 20140237907
    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: May 6, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Boden T. Boden, Dwight D. Erickson, Scott R. Culler, Negus B. Adefris, John D. Haas
  • Publication number: 20140212626
    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: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: David C. Kramlich, John L. Vandenberg, Matthew H. Frey, Scott R. Culler, Kathleen M. Schakel-Carlson
  • Patent number: 8764865
    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: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: John T. Boden, Dwight D. Erickson, Scott R. Culler, Negus B. Adefris, John D. Haas
  • Publication number: 20140109490
    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: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: John T. Boden, Scott R. Culler, Dwight D. Erickson
  • Patent number: 8701441
    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: August 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: David C. Kramlich, John L. Vandenberg, Matthew H. Frey, Scott R. Culler, Kathleen M. Schakel-Carlson
  • Patent number: 8685124
    Abstract: A method of making an abrasive article including the steps of treating a plurality of cavities in a contacting surface of a production tool by plasma deposition of a thin film thereby forming a plurality of plasma treated cavities. Filling the plurality of plasma treated cavities in the production tool with an abrasive slurry, and at least partially curing the abrasive slurry while residing in the plurality of cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Moses M. David, Scott R. Culler, John T. Boden
  • Patent number: 8444458
    Abstract: An abrasive article, such as a structured abrasive article, can be treated by subjecting it to plasma whereby the outer surface can be eroded exposing at least a portion of the abrasive particles dispersed within a cross-linked binder forming the abrasive composites. Depending on the process conditions for the plasma treatment, it is possible to erode only a small portion or substantially all of the cross-linked binder from the outer surface. Thus, the initial cut-rate of the abrasive article can be controlled since it is possible to precisely control the degree, height, or area of the exposed abrasive particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Scott R. Culler, Moses M. David, William C. Quade, Brian J. Brinkmeier
  • Patent number: 8425278
    Abstract: A structured abrasive article comprises a backing, and an abrasive layer disposed on and secured to the backing. The abrasive layer comprises shaped abrasive composites, each comprising abrasive particles dispersed in a binder. Each the shaped abrasive composites independently comprises: a base disposed on the backing; a plurality of walls extending away from the base, and a grinding surface not contacting the base. Adjacent walls share a common edge. Each wall independently forms a dihedral angle with the base of less than or equal to 90 degrees. The grinding surface has a plurality of: cusps, and facets that contact a recessed feature. At least a portion of the recessed feature is disposed closer to the base than each of the cusps. Each cusp is formed by an intersection of two of the walls and at least one of the facets. Use of the structured abrasive article to abrade a workpiece is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Scott R Culler, John D. Haas, Chaodi Li
  • Patent number: 8367198
    Abstract: Precisely-shaped composites and methods for making these composites are disclosed. The method of this disclosure comprises introducing a precursor composition onto a production tool having at least one continuous surface and a plurality of cavities so as to fill at least a portion of the cavities with the precursor composition and wherein the precursor composition, upon curing, forms a composition having a shape corresponding to the cavities thereby resulting in a plurality of discrete, precisely-shaped particles having a porosity comprising one of the following: (a) 10 m2/g or greater or (b) 5 kdalton or greater. The precisely-shaped particles have at least one essentially flat side. The precisely-shaped particles can be confined in a vessel and used for chromatographic applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Peter D. Wickert, Scott R. Culler, Jerald K. Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 8348723
    Abstract: A structured abrasive article includes a backing having a structured abrasive layer disposed on and secured thereto. The structured abrasive layer includes shaped abrasive composites that comprise abrasive particles and nonionic polyether surfactant dispersed in a crosslinked polymeric binder. The abrasive particles have a mean particle size of less than 10 micrometers. The nonionic polyether surfactant is not covalently bound to the crosslinked polymeric binder and is present in an amount of from 2.5 to 3.2 percent by weight based on a total weight of the shaped abrasive composites. The structured abrasive articles are useful for abrading a workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Edward J. Woo, Jimmie R. Baran, Jr., Scott R. Culler, Paul D. Graham
  • Publication number: 20120258652
    Abstract: Provided is a flat-faced buffing pad that includes a plurality of apertures of variable size. The apertures are generally larger in the areas toward the center of the pad, while being generally smaller in the areas toward the periphery of the pad. Some embodiments further include apertures disposed along one or more concentric circular rings located along the front surface and generally symmetrical about the rotation axis. These configurations of apertures provide both superior cut performance and superior finish. Moreover, these configurations minimize several undesirable aspects in a polishing operation, such as slinging of the polishing compound, vibration, wobbling, and drag felt by the operator as the rotary pad slides across the surface to be polished.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventors: Gregory A. Koehnle, Scott R. Culler, Brant A. Moegenburg, Schoen A. Schuknecht, Edward J. Woo
  • Publication number: 20120144754
    Abstract: Abrasive particles comprising dish-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 thickness, t; and wherein either the first face or the second face is recessed or concave.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventors: Scott R. Culler, Dwight D. Erickson, Negus B. Adefris, John T. Boden, John D. Haas
  • Publication number: 20120144755
    Abstract: An abrasive comprising shaped abrasive particles each with an opening. The shaped abrasive particles are formed from alpha alumina and have a first face and a second face separated by a thickness t. The opening in each of the shaped abrasive particles can improve grinding performance by reducing the size of a resulting wear flat, can provide a reservoir for grinding aid, and can improve adhesion to a backing in a coated abrasive article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventors: Dwight D. Erickson, Scott R. Culler, Negus B. Adefris, John T. Boden, John D. Haas
  • Publication number: 20120137597
    Abstract: Abrasive particles comprising shaped abrasive particles each having a sloping sidewall, each of the shaped abrasive particles comprising alpha alumina and having a first face and a second face separated by a thickness, t. The shaped abrasive particles further comprising a draft angle ? between the second face and the sloping sidewall, and the draft angle ? is between about 95 degrees to about 125 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: Negus B. Adefris, Dwight D. Erickson, Scott R. Culler, John T. Boden, John D. Haas
  • Patent number: 8142531
    Abstract: Shaped abrasive particles each having a sloping sidewall, each of the shaped abrasive particles comprising alpha alumina and having a first face and a second face separated by a thickness, t. The shaped abrasive particles further comprising either: a draft angle ? between the second face and the sloping sidewall, and the draft angle ? is between about 95 degrees to about 130 degrees, or the sloping sidewall having a radius, R, between the first face and the second face and the radius, R, is between about 0.5 to about 2 times the thickness, t.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Negus B. Adefris, Dwight D. Erickson, Scott R. Culler, John T. Boden, John D. Haas