Patents by Inventor Thomas J. Barnell

Thomas J. Barnell 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: 11428368
    Abstract: A method of making a fiber reinforced energetic composite is provided. The method includes providing a mold or mandrel defining a shape for the fiber reinforced energetic composite, providing an impregnated fiber layup over the mold or mandrel, and curing the impregnated fiber layup. The impregnated fiber layup includes a fiber layup and polymer resin, the fiber layup formed from a plurality of reinforcing fiber layers and an energetic polymer nanocomposite disposed adjacent one or more of the reinforcing fiber layers with the polymer resin impregnated within the reinforcing fiber layers. The energetic polymer nanocomposite includes core-shell nanoparticles entrained in a thermoplastic polymer matrix where the core-shell nanoparticles include a core made of metal and at least one shell layer made of metal oxide disposed on the core or a core made of metal oxide and at least one shell layer made of metal disposed on the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Cornerstone Research Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Rauscher, Thomas J. Barnell, Gary N. Cupp, Michael J. Fisher, Ryan D. Snyder
  • Patent number: 10670186
    Abstract: A fiber reinforced energetic composite is provided. The fiber reinforced energetic composite includes reinforcing fiber embedded in a cured polymer matrix and energetic polymer nanocomposite disposed in the reinforcing fiber. The energetic polymer nanocomposite including core-shell nanoparticles entrained in a polymer matrix. The core-shell nanoparticles include a core made of a metal and at least one shell layer made of a metal oxide disposed on the core or a core made a metal oxide and at least one shell layer made of a metal disposed on the core. The method of making a fiber reinforced energetic composite is also provided. Further, a composite container made of fiber reinforced energetic composite is further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Cornerstone Research Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael D. Rauscher, Thomas J. Barnell, Gary N. Cupp, Michael J. Fisher, Ryan D. Snyder
  • Patent number: 10167379
    Abstract: Embodiments of a hybrid fiber layup used to form a fiber-reinforced polymeric composite, and a fiber-reinforced polymeric composite produced therefrom are disclosed. The hybrid fiber layup comprises one or more dry fiber strips and one or more prepreg fiber strips arranged side by side within each layer, wherein the prepreg fiber strips comprise fiber material impregnated with polymer resin and the dry fiber strips comprise fiber material without impregnated polymer resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Cornerstone Research Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Barnell, Sean P. Garrigan, Michael D. Rauscher, Benjamin A. Dietsch, Gary N. Cupp
  • Patent number: 9908993
    Abstract: Embodiments of a hybrid fiber layup used to form a fiber-reinforced polymeric composite, and a fiber-reinforced polymeric composite produced therefrom are disclosed. The hybrid fiber layup comprises one or more dry fiber strips and one or more prepreg fiber strips arranged side by side within each layer, wherein the prepreg fiber strips comprise fiber material impregnated with polymer resin and the dry fiber strips comprise fiber material without impregnated polymer resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Cornerstone Research Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Barnell, Sean P. Garrigan, Michael D. Rauscher, Benjamin A. Dietsch, Gary N. Cupp
  • Patent number: 9370902
    Abstract: Method embodiments for producing a fiber-reinforced epoxy composite comprise providing a mold defining a shape for a composite, applying a fiber reinforcement over the mold, covering the mold and fiber reinforcement thereon in a vacuum enclosure, performing a vacuum on the vacuum enclosure to produce a pressure gradient, insulating at least a portion of the vacuum enclosure with thermal insulation, infusing the fiber reinforcement with a reactive mixture of uncured epoxy resin and curing agent under vacuum conditions, wherein the reactive mixture of uncured epoxy resin and curing agent generates exothermic heat, and producing the fiber-reinforced epoxy composite having a glass transition temperature of at least about 100° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Comerstone Research Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Barnell, Michael D. Rauscher, Rick D. Stienecker, David M. Nickerson, Tat H. Tong
  • Publication number: 20150099834
    Abstract: Method embodiments for producing a fiber-reinforced epoxy composite comprise providing a mold defining a shape for a composite, applying a fiber reinforcement over the mold, covering the mold and fiber reinforcement thereon in a vacuum enclosure, performing a vacuum on the vacuum enclosure to produce a pressure gradient, insulating at least a portion of the vacuum enclosure with thermal insulation, infusing the fiber reinforcement with a reactive mixture of uncured epoxy resin and curing agent under vacuum conditions, wherein the reactive mixture of uncured epoxy resin and curing agent generates exothermic heat, and producing the fiber-reinforced epoxy composite having a glass transition temperature of at least about 100° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas J. Barnell, Michael D. Rauscher, Rick D. Stienecker, David M. Nickerson, Tat H. Tong
  • Patent number: 8101689
    Abstract: The shape memory polymers disclosed are a reaction product of at least one reagent containing two active amino-hydrogen or two active phenolic-hydrogen with at least one multifunctional cross linking reagent which contains at least three or more active amino- or phenolic-hydrogen or is a reagent containing at least three glycidyl ether moieties which is then further mixed with at least one diglycidyl ether reagent whereupon the resulting mixture is cured and has a glass transition temperature higher than 00 C. This reaction creates crosslinking between the monomers and polymers such that during polymerization they form a crosslinked thermoset network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Cornerstone Research Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Tat Hung Tong, Benjamin J. Vining, Richard D. Hreha, Thomas J. Barnell
  • Publication number: 20080269420
    Abstract: The shape memory polymers disclosed are a reaction product of at least one reagent containing two active amino-hydrogen or two active phenolic-hydrogen with at least one multifunctional cross linking reagent which contains at least three or more active amino- or phenolic-hydrogen or is a reagent containing at least three glycidyl ether moieties which is then further mixed with at least one diglycidyl ether reagent whereupon the resulting mixture is cured and has a glass transition temperature higher than 00C. This reaction creates crosslinking between the monomers and polymers such that during polymerization they form a crosslinked thermoset network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Tat Hung Tong, Benjamin J. Vining, Richard D. Hreha, Thomas J. Barnell