Patents Assigned to Bucknell University
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Patent number: 11897479Abstract: A device for estimating a friction coefficient between a road surface and an automotive tire through determination of a steering torque during a steering maneuver of a slow-rolling or stationary vehicle includes a computer configured for constructing a brush model for a description of the steering torque across a contact patch between the tire and road surface. The steering torque is a torque acting on a steering axis required to overcome resistance to tire twisting on the road surface at a wheel velocity and a steering rate. The steering torque depends on a tire brush vertical load distribution and relative motion of tire brushes and the road surface. The device further includes sensors for measuring the wheel velocity and the steering rate and mechanism for measurements or estimation of the steering torque. The friction coefficient is estimated based on the measurements or estimation of the steering torque and the brush model.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2020Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignees: THE PENN STATE RESEARCH FOUNDATION, BUCKNELL UNIVERSITYInventors: Craig E. Beal, Sean N. Brennan
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Patent number: 10881763Abstract: A closed loop granular jamming apparatus is disclosed including a three-dimensional membrane structure filled with granular material. Fluid is evacuated from the structure which induces a jamming effect, whereas the viscosity of the granular media increases with increasing particle density. The thin membrane conforms to the shape of the granular material. Decreasing enclosed volume and increasing packing density prevents particles from distributing within the confined space, inducing the aggregate to behave as a solid. In the jammed state, the apparatus is resistive to force and change of shape. The apparatus is returned to the unjammed state by releasing the vacuum. The size and shape of the apparatus may be repeatedly adjusted by alternating between the jammed and unjammed states. The closed loop granular jamming apparatus may include toroidal and cylindrical shapes with articulating inserts and compliant spines.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2019Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Assignee: BUCKNELL UNIVERSITYInventors: Charles John Kim, Paden Michael Troxell, Kaixiang Shi
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Patent number: 10684603Abstract: A screw-driven extrusion system includes a novel screw-drive extruder. The extruder includes a motor-driven screw. The screw moves solid pellets from a feed hopper into a section that is actively heated. The solid pellets fully liquefy as they pass through the heated section. A control system controls screw, heating, and optionally cooling, operations to selectively control flow of liquefied material from the extruder's tip. The dynamically-controlled can continuously adjust its feed speed and temperature to keep up with continuously changing demands of a larger control system involved in monitoring and running a corresponding 3-D printer in an additive manufacturing process. In contrast to wirefeed extrusion systems that rely on the rigidity of the material in “wire”-formed feedstock, this screw-driven extrusion system is well-suited to use of less-rigid thermoplastic elastomers for the manufacture of objects for use in soft robotics, medical and mold-making applications.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2016Date of Patent: June 16, 2020Assignee: BUCKNELL UNIVERSITYInventors: Charles John Kim, Samuel Thomas Pratt
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Publication number: 20160327483Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides a sensor including: one or more fiber optic emitters and one or more fiber optic receivers lying in the same plane and spaced from, but proximate to the one or more fiber optic emitters. Another aspect of the invention provides a sensor including: one or more fiber optic emitters and one or more fiber optic receivers spaced from, but proximate to the one or more fiber optic emitters. Each of the one or more fiber optic receivers have an end that lies outside of a light beam emitted by the one or more fiber optic emitters.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2016Publication date: November 10, 2016Applicant: Bucknell UniversityInventors: Keith Mattern, Daniel Willard, Joel Wood, James Maneval
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Patent number: 9186835Abstract: A method for solid-state/melt extrusion, as can be accomplished using a unitary extruder apparatus comprising a solid-state shearing zone and a melt-state extrusion zone.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2012Date of Patent: November 17, 2015Assignee: Bucknell UniversityInventors: Katsuyuki Wakabayashi, Stephen M. Brouse, Michael D. Boches
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Patent number: 9126127Abstract: An apparatus for separating hydrophilic material from hydrophobic material, comprising: (a) a body having a first and second parallel walls defining an elongated cavity; (b) a water-absorbing material in the cavity along the first wall and having a surface essentially parallel to the second wall, thereby defining a channel between the surface and the second wall; (c) a first inlet having a first inlet end disposed in the channel, the first inlet being configured for injecting a mixture of hydrophilic and hydrophobic material; (d) a first outlet having a first outlet end disposed in the channel proximate the surface downstream of the first inlet end and configured for removing the hydrophilic material; and (e) a second outlet having a second outlet end disposed in the channel a distance from the surface downstream of the first inlet end and configured for removing the hydrophobic material.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2012Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: BUCKNELL UNIVERSITYInventors: Erin Lynne Jablonski, Janet T. Tesfai, Renee N. Perry, Daniel Eric Mayo
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Patent number: 9012597Abstract: A method for producing a macrocyclic polymer comprising: (a) polymerizing a monomer using a dibrominated initiator having either an aromatic or ester moiety via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) to form a polymer precursor having brominated, phenylated end groups; and (b) cyclizing the polymer precursor using intramolecular atom transfer radical coupling (ATRC) to form the macrocyclic polymer.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2011Date of Patent: April 21, 2015Assignee: Bucknell UniversityInventors: Eric S. Tillman, Andrew F. Voter
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Publication number: 20130113135Abstract: A method for solid-state/melt extrusion, as can be accomplished using a unitary extruder apparatus comprising a solid-state shearing zone and a melt-state extrusion zone.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 17, 2012Publication date: May 9, 2013Applicant: Bucknell UniversityInventor: Bucknell University
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Publication number: 20120298579Abstract: An apparatus for separating hydrophilic material from hydrophobic material, comprising: (a) a body having a first and second parallel walls defining an elongated cavity; (b) a water-absorbing material in the cavity along the first wall and having a surface essentially parallel to the second wall, thereby defining a channel between the surface and the second wall; (c) a first inlet having a first inlet end disposed in the channel, the first inlet being configured for injecting a mixture of hydrophilic and hydrophobic material; (d) a first outlet having a first outlet end disposed in the channel proximate the surface downstream of the first inlet end and configured for removing the hydrophilic material; and (e) a second outlet having a second outlet end disposed in the channel a distance from the surface downstream of the first inlet end and configured for removing the hydrophobic material.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 24, 2012Publication date: November 29, 2012Applicant: Bucknell UniversityInventors: Erin Lynne Jablonski, Janet T. Tesfai, Renee N. Perry, Daniel Eric Mayo