Patents by Inventor William C. Whitcomb

William C. Whitcomb 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: 5468536
    Abstract: A microfibrous sorbent article is provided. The microfibrous sorbent article comprises an elongate boom having a substantially oval cross-section. The boom is formed of multiple adjacent microfibers layers, the layers being bonded to each other by entanglement of fibers between adjacent layers. The boom further contains ion exchange resin, selectively absorbent particulate material, catalytic agent or selectively reactive particulate material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: William C. Whitcomb, Thomas I. Insley, Simon S. Fung
  • Patent number: 4944905
    Abstract: Process for making particulate ceramics having an alumina rich region near their surface, comprising the following steps:(a) mixing and pelletizing, with the aid of water, raw materials including a mineral particulate such as nepheline syenite and a binder such as bentonite;(b) drying the wet pellets from step (a);(c) mixing the dried pellets with alumina parting agent; and(d) firing the mixture of pellets and parting agent at a sufficient temperature (less than 1450.degree. C.) and for sufficient time for vitrification to occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1990
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James L. Gibb, James A. Laird, George W. Lee, William C. Whitcomb
  • Patent number: 4680230
    Abstract: A two-phase ceramic particulate useful as a proppant in hydraulic fracturing operations is provided which comprises a vitreous matrix phase containing a crystalline alumina phase. The new ceramic particles are characterized by:(i) a concentration gradient of alumina which increases from very low in the center to relatively high near the surface of the particles;(ii) a fired density less than about 2.9 g/cc; and(iii) closed cell microporosity.Certain embodiments of the inventive ceramic particulate are also characterized by a Krumbein roundness of at least 0.8 and are chemically stable.The ceramic is made by a process comprising the steps of:a. mixing and pelletizing, with the aid of water, the dry raw materials including a mineral particulate such as nepheline syenite and a binder such as bentonite;b. drying the wet pelletizer product;c. mixing the dried pellets with a parting agent; andd.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1987
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James L. Gibb, James A. Laird, George W. Lee, William C. Whitcomb