Patents by Inventor Brian D. Brown

Brian D. Brown 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: 12226783
    Abstract: A system for processing scrap material that includes a variable-power electromagnetic drum separator wherein shredded scrap material is placed in free fall at a position proximate the electromagnetic drum separator. A first fraction of the scrap material is attracted to the electromagnetic drum separator and is carried under the rotational axis of the electromagnetic drum separator thereby separating the first fraction of material from a second fraction of the material which continues to free fall and wherein the first fraction is a low-copper ferrous material with the second fraction having a higher non-ferrous content than the first fraction. A magnetic drum separator may be positioned upstream of the variable-power electromagnetic drum separator and be used to separate non-ferrous materials. The variable-power electromagnetic drum separator may be adjusted so that the second fraction includes some ferrous material. A robotic picker may be used to remove undesirable materials from the second fraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: BlueScope Recycling and Materials LLC
    Inventor: Brian D. Brown
  • Publication number: 20240017271
    Abstract: A system for processing scrap material that includes a variable-power electromagnetic drum separator wherein shredded scrap material is placed in free fall at a position proximate the electromagnetic drum separator. A first fraction of the scrap material is attracted to the electromagnetic drum separator and is carried under the rotational axis of the electromagnetic drum separator thereby separating the first fraction of material from a second fraction of the material which continues to free fall and wherein the first fraction is a low-copper ferrous material with the second fraction having a higher non-ferrous content than the first fraction. A magnetic drum separator may be positioned upstream of the variable-power electromagnetic drum separator and be used to separate non-ferrous materials. The variable-power electromagnetic drum separator may be adjusted so that the second fraction includes some ferrous material. A robotic picker may be used to remove undesirable materials from the second fraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2023
    Publication date: January 18, 2024
    Inventor: Brian D. Brown
  • Patent number: 11590513
    Abstract: A system for processing scrap material that includes a variable-power electromagnetic drum separator wherein shredded scrap material is placed in free fall at a position proximate the electromagnetic drum separator. A first fraction of the scrap material is attracted to the electromagnetic drum separator and is carried under the rotational axis of the electromagnetic drum separator thereby separating the first fraction of material from a second fraction of the material which continues to free fall and wherein the first fraction is a low-copper ferrous material with the second fraction having a higher non-ferrous content than the first fraction. A magnetic drum separator may be positioned upstream of the variable-power electromagnetic drum separator and be used to separate non-ferrous materials. The variable-power electromagnetic drum separator may be adjusted so that the second fraction includes some ferrous material. A robotic picker may be used to remove undesirable materials from the second fraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: BlueScope Recycling and Materials LLC
    Inventor: Brian D. Brown
  • Patent number: 5759007
    Abstract: The invention provides a manually operated machine for radially aligning one or more semiconductor wafers. The machine includes an elongated first "notch" roller for rotatably engaging the edge of the wafers, a gear train, and a hand crank for manually rotating the first roller in cooperation with the gear train. The wafers are aligned according to the notches as the wafers are engaged and rotated by the notch roller until the notch in each wafer falls over and is disengaged by that roller. The manual notch finder may also include an elongated second "position" roller for rotatably engaging the edge of the wafers. The position roller is disposed laterally near the notch roller and sized and shaped to engage the edge of the wafers fully along the periphery of each wafer so that the aligned wafers can be positioned to any degree of radial orientation. The invention also provides a combination notch or flat finder machine integrated with a wafer transfer machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ernest C. Nichols, Brian D. Brown, Timothy A. Strodtbeck, Kevin A. Larsen, Shelby K. Moore, John S. Molebash