Patents by Inventor Billy Smith
Billy Smith 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).
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Patent number: 11643763Abstract: The present disclosure provides scalable nanotube fabrics and methods for controlling or otherwise adjusting the nanotube length distribution of a nanotube application solution in order to realize scalable nanotube fabrics. In one aspect of the present disclosure, one or more filtering operations are used to remove relatively long nanotube elements from a nanotube solution until nanotube length distribution of the nanotube solution conforms to a preselected or desired nanotube length distribution profile. In another aspect of the present disclosure, a sono-chemical cutting process is used to break up relatively long nanotube elements within a nanotube application solution into relatively short nanotube elements to realize a pre-selected or desired nanotube length distribution profile.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2020Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: ZEON CORPORATIONInventors: Rahul Sen, Billy Smith, J. Thomas Kocab, Ramesh Sivarajan, Peter Sites, Thomas Rueckes, David A. Roberts
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Patent number: 11332861Abstract: Methods for characterizing a nanotube formulation with respect to one or more particular ionic species are disclosed. Within the methods of the present disclosure, this characterization provides control over the surface roughness (or smoothness) and the degree of rafting within a nanotube fabric formed from such a nanotube formulation. In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a nanotube formulation roughness curve (and methods for generating such a curve) that can be used to select a utilizable range of ionic species concentration levels that will provide a nanotube fabric with a desired surface roughness (or smoothness) and degree of rafting. In some aspects of the present disclosure, such a nanotube formulation roughness curve can be used adjust nanotube formulation prior to a nanotube formulation deposition process to provide nanotube fabrics that are relatively smooth with a low degree of rafting.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2019Date of Patent: May 17, 2022Assignee: ZEON CORPORATIONInventors: Jennifer Black, Joseph James McDermott, Rahul Sen, David A. Roberts, Billy Smith
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Publication number: 20220016805Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for stabilizing a colloidal dispersion during transport for low defect tolerance applications. The methods involve eliminating fluid interfaces within a dispersion, storing the dispersion in an environment of inert gas, and degassing the dispersion. Several bottle closure devices are described which may be ideal for use with these methods, being able to seal a container filled with a dispersion, permit the removal of headspace and rapidly empty the contained dispersion. In one aspect, the device includes a vented cap and semi-permeable membrane, which allows the passage of gas into and out of the container, and a dispenser nozzle integrated with the device to allow a stored dispersion to be dispensed without removing the device from the container. In another aspect, the bottle closure device includes an attachment point for a removable downtube and dispenser nozzle.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2021Publication date: January 20, 2022Inventors: Billy Smith, David Cook, David A. Roberts, Thomas R. Bengston
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Patent number: 11136239Abstract: Methods for forming a nanotube fabric with a controlled surface roughness (or smoothness) and a selected degree of rafting are disclosed by adjusting the concentration levels of a selected ionic species within a nanotube formulation used to form the nanotube fabric. In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a nanotube formulation roughness curve (and methods for generating such a curve) that can be used to select a utilizable range of ionic species concentration levels that will provide a nanotube fabric with a desired surface roughness (or smoothness) and degree of rafting. In some aspects of the present disclosure, such a nanotube formulation roughness curve can be used adjust nanotube formulation prior to a nanotube formulation deposition process to provide nanotube fabrics that are relatively smooth with a low degree of rafting.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2019Date of Patent: October 5, 2021Inventors: Joseph James McDermott, Jennifer Black, Rahul Sen, David A. Roberts, Billy Smith
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Patent number: 11117289Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for stabilizing a colloidal dispersion during transport for low defect tolerance applications. The methods involve eliminating fluid interfaces within a dispersion, storing the dispersion in an environment of inert gas, and degassing the dispersion. Several bottle closure devices are described which may be ideal for use with these methods, being able to seal a container filled with a dispersion, permit the removal of headspace and rapidly empty the contained dispersion. In one aspect, the device includes a vented cap and semi-permeable membrane, which allows the passage of gas into and out of the container, and a dispenser nozzle integrated with the device to allow a stored dispersion to be dispensed without removing the device from the container. In another aspect, the bottle closure device includes an attachment point for a removable downtube and dispenser nozzle.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 2017Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: Nantero, Inc.Inventors: Billy Smith, David Cook, David A. Roberts, Thomas R. Bengtson
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Publication number: 20200362491Abstract: Methods for characterizing a nanotube formulation with respect to one or more particular ionic species are disclosed. Within the methods of the present disclosure, this characterization provides control over the surface roughness (or smoothness) and the degree of rafting within a nanotube fabric formed form such a nanotube formulation. In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a nanotube formulation roughness curve (and methods for generating such a curve) that can be used to select a utilizable range of ionic species concentration levels that will provide a nanotube fabric with a desired surface roughness (or smoothness) and degree of rafting. In some aspects of the present disclosure, such a nanotube formulation roughness curve can be used adjust nanotube formulation prior to a nanotube formulation deposition process to provide nanotube fabrics that are relatively smooth with a low degree of rafting.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2019Publication date: November 19, 2020Inventors: Jennifer Black, Joseph James McDermott, Rahul Sen, David A. Roberts, Billy Smith
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Publication number: 20200262701Abstract: The present disclosure provides scalable nanotube fabrics and methods for controlling or otherwise adjusting the nanotube length distribution of a nanotube application solution in order to realize scalable nanotube fabrics. In one aspect of the present disclosure, one or more filtering operations are used to remove relatively long nanotube elements from a nanotube solution until nanotube length distribution of the nanotube solution conforms to a preselected or desired nanotube length distribution profile. In another aspect of the present disclosure, a sono-chemical cutting process is used to break up relatively long nanotube elements within a nanotube application solution into relatively short nanotube elements to realize a pre-selected or desired nanotube length distribution profile.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2020Publication date: August 20, 2020Inventors: Rahul SEN, Billy SMITH, J. Thomas KOCAB, Ramesh SIVARAJAN, Peter SITES, Thomas RUECKES, David A. ROBERTS
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Patent number: 10654718Abstract: The present disclosure provides scalable nanotube fabrics and methods for controlling or otherwise adjusting the nanotube length distribution of a nanotube application solution in order to realize scalable nanotube fabrics. In one aspect of the present disclosure, one or more filtering operations are used to remove relatively long nanotube elements from a nanotube solution until nanotube length distribution of the nanotube solution conforms to a preselected or desired nanotube length distribution profile. In another aspect of the present disclosure, a sono-chemical cutting process is used to break up relatively long nanotube elements within a nanotube application solution into relatively short nanotube elements to realize a pre-selected or desired nanotube length distribution profile.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2013Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignee: Nantero, Inc.Inventors: Rahul Sen, Billy Smith, J. Thomas Kocab, Ramesh Sivarajan, Peter Sites, Thomas Rueckes, David A. Roberts
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Publication number: 20190292057Abstract: Methods for forming a nanotube fabric with a controlled surface roughness (or smoothness) and a selected degree of rafting are disclosed by adjusting the concentration levels of a selected ionic species within a nanotube formulation used to form the nanotube fabric. In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a nanotube formulation roughness curve (and methods for generating such a curve) that can be used to select a utilizable range of ionic species concentration levels that will provide a nanotube fabric with a desired surface roughness (or smoothness) and degree of rafting. In some aspects of the present disclosure, such a nanotube formulation roughness curve can be used adjust nanotube formulation prior to a nanotube formulation deposition process to provide nanotube fabrics that are relatively smooth with a low degree of rafting.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2019Publication date: September 26, 2019Inventors: Joseph James McDermott, Jennifer Black, Rahul Sen, David A. Roberts, Billy Smith
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Publication number: 20180345538Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for stabilizing a colloidal dispersion during transport for low defect tolerance applications. The methods involve eliminating fluid interfaces within a dispersion, storing the dispersion in an environment of inert gas, and degassing the dispersion. Several bottle closure devices are described which may be ideal for use with these methods, being able to seal a container filled with a dispersion, permit the removal of headspace and rapidly empty the contained dispersion. In one aspect, the device includes a vented cap and semi-permeable membrane, which allows the passage of gas into and out of the container, and a dispenser nozzle integrated with the device to allow a stored dispersion to be dispensed without removing the device from the container. In another aspect, the bottle closure device includes an attachment point for a removable downtube and dispenser nozzle.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 19, 2017Publication date: December 6, 2018Inventors: Billy Smith, David Cook, David A. Roberts, Thomas R. Bengtson
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Patent number: 10069072Abstract: Solutions of carbon nanotubes and methods for purifying the solutions are provided. The methods include mixing, for example, at least one complexing agents, at least one ionic species, and/or at least one buffer oxide etch (BOE) with a liquid medium containing carbon nanotubes and different types of contaminants, such as metal impurities, amorphous carbon, and/or silica particles, and performing a filtration process to the liquid medium so as to remove or reduce the contaminants in the liquid medium. As a result, carbon nanotube solutions of low contaminants are produced. In some embodiments, the solutions of this disclosure include a high concentration of carbon nanotubes and are substantially free from metal, amorphous carbon, and/or silica impurities.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2011Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignee: Nantero, Inc.Inventors: David A. Roberts, Rahul Sen, J. Thomas Kocab, Billy Smith, Feng Gu
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Patent number: 9862872Abstract: Methods including introducing a treatment fluid into a wellbore in a subterranean formation, wherein the subterranean formation includes a coal seam gas reservoir, a freshwater reservoir, and formation laminae interposed therebetween, and the wellbore penetrating each, and wherein the treatment fluid comprises an aqueous base fluid and an aqueous curable resin; penetrating at least a portion of the formation laminae with the aqueous curable resin while maintaining the treatment fluid in the wellbore at a pressure sufficient to prevent the flow of freshwater from the freshwater reservoir into the wellbore; curing the aqueous curable resin, thereby stabilizing the formation laminae; creating permeability pathways in the coal seam gas reservoir itself; removing the treatment fluid from the wellbore; recovering gas from the coal seam gas reservoir.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2014Date of Patent: January 9, 2018Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Philip D. Nguyen, Douglas Magill, Jessica Lynn Heeter, Billy Smith
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Publication number: 20170246561Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for removing defects nanotube application solutions and providing low defect, highly uniform nanotube fabrics. In one aspect, a degassing process is performed on a suspension of nanotubes to remove air bubbles present in the solution. In another aspect, a continuous flow centrifugation (CFC) process is used to remove small scale defects from the solution. In another aspect, a depth filter is used to remove large scale defects from the solution. According to the present disclosure, these three methods can be used alone or combined to realize a low defect nanotube application solutions and fabrics.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2017Publication date: August 31, 2017Applicant: Nantero, Inc.Inventors: J. THOMAS KOCAB, Thomas Bengtson, Sanjin Hosic, Rahul Sen, Billy Smith, David A. Roberts, Peter Sites
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Patent number: 9650732Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for removing defects nanotube application solutions and providing low defect, highly uniform nanotube fabrics. In one aspect, a degassing process is performed on a suspension of nanotubes to remove air bubbles present in the solution. In another aspect, a continuous flow centrifugation (CFC) process is used to remove small scale defects from the solution. In another aspect, a depth filter is used to remove large scale defects from the solution. According to the present disclosure, these three methods can be used alone or combined to realize a low defect nanotube application solutions and fabrics.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2014Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: Nantero Inc.Inventors: J. Thomas Kocab, Thomas R. Bengtson, Sanjin Hosic, Rahul Sen, Billy Smith, David A. Roberts, Peter Sites
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Patent number: 9634251Abstract: The present disclosure provides a nanotube solution being treated with a molecular additive, a nanotube film having enhanced adhesion property due to the treatment of the molecular additive, and methods for forming the nanotube solution and the nanotube film. The nanotube solution includes a liquid medium, nanotubes in the liquid medium, and a molecular additive in the liquid medium, wherein the molecular additive includes molecules that provide source elements for forming a group IV oxide within the nanotube solution. The molecular additive can introduce silicon (Si) and/or germanium (Ge) in the liquid medium, such that nominal silicon and/or germanium concentrations of the nanotube solution ranges from about 5 ppm to about 60 ppm.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2012Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: Nantero Inc.Inventors: David A. Roberts, Rahul Sen, Peter Sites, J. Thomas Kocab, Billy Smith, Feng Gu
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Publication number: 20170009124Abstract: Methods including introducing a treatment fluid into a wellbore in a subterranean formation, wherein the subterranean formation includes a coal seam gas reservoir, a freshwater reservoir, and formation laminae interposed therebetween, and the wellbore penetrating each, and wherein the treatment fluid comprises an aqueous base fluid and an aqueous curable resin; penetrating at least a portion of the formation laminae with the aqueous curable resin while maintaining the treatment fluid in the wellbore at a pressure sufficient to prevent the flow of freshwater from the freshwater reservoir into the wellbore; curing the aqueous curable resin, thereby stabilizing the formation laminae; creating permeability pathways in the coal seam gas reservoir itself; removing the treatment fluid from the wellbore; recovering gas from the coal seam gas reservoir.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 9, 2014Publication date: January 12, 2017Applicant: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.Inventors: Philip D. Nguyen, Douglas Magill, Jessica Lynn Heeter, Billy Smith
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Publication number: 20150086771Abstract: The present disclosure provides scalable nanotube fabrics and methods for controlling or otherwise adjusting the nanotube length distribution of a nanotube application solution in order to realize scalable nanotube fabrics. In one aspect of the present disclosure, one or more filtering operations are used to remove relatively long nanotube elements from a nanotube solution until nanotube length distribution of the nanotube solution conforms to a preselected or desired nanotube length distribution profile. In another aspect of the present disclosure, a sono-chemical cutting process is used to break up relatively long nanotube elements within a nanotube application solution into relatively short nanotube elements to realize a pre-selected or desired nanotube length distribution profile.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2013Publication date: March 26, 2015Applicant: NANTERO INC.Inventors: Rahul SEN, Billy SMITH, J. Thomas KOCAB, Ramesh SIVARAJAN, Peter SITES, Thomas RUECKES, David A. ROBERTS
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Publication number: 20140329430Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for removing defects nanotube application solutions and providing low defect, highly uniform nanotube fabrics. In one aspect, a degassing process is performed on a suspension of nanotubes to remove air bubbles present in the solution. In another aspect, a continuous flow centrifugation (CFC) process is used to remove small scale defects from the solution. In another aspect, a depth filter is used to remove large scale defects from the solution. According to the present disclosure, these three methods can be used alone or combined to realize a low defect nanotube application solutions and fabrics.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2014Publication date: November 6, 2014Applicant: Nantero Inc.Inventors: J. Thomas Kocab, Thomas R. Bengtson, Sanjin Hosic, Rahul Sen, Billy Smith, David A. Roberts, Peter Sites
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Publication number: 20130243954Abstract: Solutions of carbon nanotubes and methods for purifying the solutions are provided. The methods include mixing, for example, at least one complexing agents, at least one ionic species, and/or at least one buffer oxide etch (BOE) with a liquid medium containing carbon nanotubes and different types of contaminants, such as metal impurities, amorphous carbon, and/or silica particles, and performing a filtration process to the liquid medium so as to remove or reduce the contaminants in the liquid medium. As a result, carbon nanotube solutions of low contaminants are produced. In some embodiments, the solutions of this disclosure include a high concentration of carbon nanotubes and are substantially free from metal, amorphous carbon, and/or silica impurities.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2011Publication date: September 19, 2013Applicant: Nantero Inc.Inventors: David A. Roberts, Rahul Sen, J. Thomas Kocab, Billy Smith, Feng Gu
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Publication number: 20130224934Abstract: The present disclosure provides a nanotube solution being treated with a molecular additive, a nanotube film having enhanced adhesion property due to the treatment of the molecular additive, and methods for forming the nanotube solution and the nanotube film. The nanotube solution includes a liquid medium, nanotubes in the liquid medium, and a molecular additive in the liquid medium, wherein the molecular additive includes molecules that provide source elements for forming a group IV oxide within the nanotube solution. The molecular additive can introduce silicon (Si) and/or germanium (Ge) in the liquid medium, such that nominal silicon and/or germanium concentrations of the nanotube solution ranges from about 5 ppm to about 60 ppm.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 9, 2012Publication date: August 29, 2013Applicant: NANTERO INC.Inventors: David A. ROBERTS, Rahul SEN, Peter SITES, J. Thomas KOCAB, Billy Smith, Feng GU