Patents by Inventor Blake A. Herren

Blake A. Herren 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).

  • Sorbent-based oil skimmer and methods of use
    Patent number: 11905671
    Abstract: A sorbent-based oil skimmer is configured to collect oil from an oil layer and passively deposit the oil in an encasing, where the oil can be continuously or periodically removed. The oil skimmer includes an encasing and a sponge that is partially enclosed within the encasing. The sponge has a top sheet in contact with the oil layer and a shell connected to the top sheet, where the shell extends into the encasing. Oil collected by the top sheet is conveyed through the shell, where it is deposited into the encasing under the force of gravity. In some applications, the sponge is manufactured from a silicone-based polymer that has been impregnated with carbonaceous material. The skimmer may optionally include counterweights, ballast tanks, buoyancy adjustment systems and propulsion modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: The Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma
    Inventors: Blake A. Herren, Yingtao Liu, M. Cengiz Altan, Mrinal C. Saha
  • SORBENT-BASED OIL SKIMMER AND METHODS OF USE
    Publication number: 20220228339
    Abstract: A sorbent-based oil skimmer is configured to collect oil from an oil layer and passively deposit the oil in an encasing, where the oil can be continuously or periodically removed. The oil skimmer includes an encasing and a sponge that is partially enclosed within the encasing. The sponge has a top sheet in contact with the oil layer and a shell connected to the top sheet, where the shell extends into the encasing. Oil collected by the top sheet is conveyed through the shell, where it is deposited into the encasing under the force of gravity. In some applications, the sponge is manufactured from a silicone-based polymer that has been impregnated with carbonaceous material. The skimmer may optionally include counterweights, ballast tanks, buoyancy adjustment systems and propulsion modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Applicant: The Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma
    Inventors: Blake A. Herren, Yingtao Liu, M. Cengiz Altan, Mrinal C. Saha
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR THREE DIMENSIONAL PRINTING USING MICROWAVE ASSISTED DEPOSITION
    Publication number: 20220184890
    Abstract: Systems and methods for three-dimensional printing using microwave assisted deposition are disclosed herein. An example device includes a reservoir of carbonaceous nanocomposite thermoset, a microwave resonance cavity that cures the carbonaceous nanocomposite thermoset, and a sensor to measure the extrusion temperature of the resin when curing the carbonaceous nanocomposite thermoset at the point of deposition during extrusion-based 3D printing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Blake Herren, Ryan J. Cowdrey, John F. Gerling