Patents by Inventor Brian M. Ford

Brian M. Ford 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).

  • Publication number: 20090032227
    Abstract: The invention provides to thermal management devices constructed from flexible graphite. In one embodiment, the thermal management device includes a wick structure inside a shell. In certain preferred embodiments, the wick structure is composed of a mass of expanded graphite. In a another embodiment, the shell of the device includes flexible graphite and an optional wick structure. In certain preferred embodiments, the flexible graphite shell is fluid impermeable. The invention further includes methods of making the aforementioned thermal management devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: GRAFTECH INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS INC.
    Inventors: Daniel W. Krassowski, Gray G. Chen, Thomas W. Burkett, Brian M. Ford, Jing-Wen Tzeng, Julian Norley, Martin D. Smalc
  • Patent number: 7161809
    Abstract: A thermal solution for equipment containing a heat-generating component, which is positioned between the heat-generating component and an external surface of the equipment, where the thermal solution facilitates heat dissipation from the heat-generating component while shielding the external surface from the heat generated by the heat-generating component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Advanced Energy Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Brian M. Ford, Gary D. Shives, Julian Norley, Robert Anderson Reynolds, III
  • Patent number: 7105108
    Abstract: The invention relates to expanded graphite and methods of making the graphite and products that can be made from the graphite made from the inventive process. The invention includes the step of introducing a fluid into at least one of a plurality of interstices of graphite flake, wherein the fluid comprises at least one of a sub-critical point fluid, a near critical point fluid, or a supercritical fluid. The graphite flake is also intercalated with an intercalant and optionally an oxidizing agent. The invention may further include novel techniques of exfoliating the graphite. The invention may be practiced to make nano-sized graphite particles and also graphite composites. Preferred composites which may be made in accordance with the invention include conductive polymeric composites (thermally or electrically), paint composites, battery composites, capacitor composites, and pollution abatement catalyst support composites.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Advanced Energy Technology Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Kaschak, Robert A. Reynolds, III, Daniel W. Krassowski, Brian M. Ford
  • Publication number: 20040118553
    Abstract: The invention provides to thermal management devices constructed from flexible graphite. In one embodiment, the thermal management device includes a wick structure inside a shell. In certain preferred embodiments, the wick structure is composed of a mass of expanded graphite. In a another embodiment, the shell of the-device includes flexible graphite and an optional wick structure. In certain preferred embodiments, the flexible graphite shell is fluid impermeable. The invention further includes methods of making the aforementioned thermal management devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Applicant: Graftech, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel W. Krassowski, Gary G. Chen, Thomas W. Burkett, Brian M. Ford, Jing-Wen Tzeng, Julian Norley, Martin D. Smalc
  • Publication number: 20040033189
    Abstract: The invention relates to expanded graphite and methods of making the graphite and products that can be made from the graphite made from the inventive process. The invention includes the step of introducing a fluid into at least one of a plurality of interstices of graphite flake, wherein the fluid comprises at least one of a sub-critical point fluid, a near critical point fluid, or a supercritical fluid. The graphite flake is also intercalated with an intercalant and optionally an oxidizing agent. The invention may further include novel techniques of exfoliating the graphite. The invention may be practiced to make nano-sized graphite particles and also graphite composites. Preferred composites which may be made in accordance with the invention include conductive polymeric composites (thermally or electrically), paint composites, battery composites, capacitor composites, and pollution abatement catalyst support composites.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2002
    Publication date: February 19, 2004
    Applicant: Graftech Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Kaschak, Robert A. Reynolds, Daniel W. Krassowski, Brian M. Ford
  • Patent number: 6228914
    Abstract: An aqueous composition containing a hardenable binder of a melamine compound, such as an acid-hardenable melamine-formaldehyde resin, and an acidic phosphorus compound, such as a nitrogen-containing phosphorus compound made from either phosphoric acid or phosphorus acid, and expandable graphite flake, which composition is curable to an intumescent composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignees: Graftech Inc., Georgia-Pacific Resins Inc.
    Inventors: Brian M. Ford, David A. Hutchings, Mel E. Foucht, Shahid P. Qureshi, Chad E. Garvey, Daniel W. Krassowski
  • Patent number: 5494506
    Abstract: A gasket arrangement is provided for a filter in a pyrotechnic gas generator which includes a compressed sheet formed of a combination of intercalated graphite particles and exfoliated flexible graphite particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Assignee: UCAR Carbon Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Brian M. Ford, John J. Wetula
  • Patent number: 5443894
    Abstract: This invention relates to a fire retardant wooden structural element, such as the web of a wooden joist, a wall panel, exterior or interior siding panel or the like, which is formed of oriented strand board (OSB) having outer layers which contain particles of expandable graphite and a core layer which is free of expandable graphite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Ucar Carbon Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Mark W. Pollock, John J. Wetula, Brian M. Ford