Patents by Inventor Bruce E. Kurtz

Bruce E. Kurtz 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: 6070427
    Abstract: A shipping and storage system for exothermic materials where the risk of reaching unacceptably high temperatures is alleviated comprising,a) a container vessel,b) a heat sink material inside the vessel and adapted to hold and be in intimate contact with one or more packages of exothermic material, the heat sink material having an effective high heat capacity and latent heat of melting and/or vaporization such that it absorbs all of the energy produced by the exothermic material, if it reacts by reaching its reaction initiation temperature, andc) optional cooling means in the vessel and surrounding the heat sink material and packaged exothermic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: National Starch and Chemical Investment Holding Corporation
    Inventors: Brett M. Fine, Bruce E. Kurtz
  • Patent number: 5106308
    Abstract: A planer contact grid array connector features a selectively ceramic coated metal substrate in combination with ceramic thick film and/or multi-layer thin film circuitry and contacts of various configurations which may be affixed to or incorporated in mating connector halves. Planer contact array connectors of the type described have coaxial connection features, increased power handling capability and improved means for effecting gas-tight contact between mating connector halves. Additionally, the connectors are more reliable, lighter and more rugged than currently available connectors and have the capability of incorporating integral ceramic thick film components such as capacitors and resistors for filtering, impedance control and signal/power conditioning, as the case may be.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard P. Gollomp, Bruce E. Kurtz
  • Patent number: 5094811
    Abstract: The invention is a method for making an electrically conductive path on the wall of a passage through a substrate. It is especially useful for connecting electrically conductive paths (25) on opposite sides of a circuit board (20). The method is characterized by the steps of forming a tapered passage (21) through the substrate (20) that connects to at least one conductive path on each side of the substrate (20), filling the tapered passage (21) with an electrically conductive powder (10), applying pressure with a tapered die (30) to compact the powder (11) against the wall of the passage (21) without blocking the passage, and then heating the compacted powder (11) to a temperature that increases the conductivity and ductility of the compacted powder (11) and its adhesion to the substrate (20) without adversely affecting the shape or condition of the substrate (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1992
    Assignee: Allied-Signal
    Inventors: Robert P. Kane, Bruce E. Kurtz
  • Patent number: 5041943
    Abstract: The invention relates to an improvement in dielectric type printed circuit boards having wells for mounting active circuit components on a metal substrate for heat dissipation. The improvement resides in a hermetic seal for the printed circuit board which includes a lid hermetically sealed to the top surface of the circuit board, as well as a chemically vapor deposited coating on the dielectric around the active components to prevent seepage of water and oxyen through the lid edges and into the well regions which would otherwise be detrimental to the active components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1991
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Ilardi, Bernard P. Gollomp, Bruce E. Kurtz
  • Patent number: 4921777
    Abstract: This method relates to a process for manufacturing printed circuit boards in which a metal coating is sputtered onto certain regions of a substrate. Adhesion of the sputtered material is excellent. Surface preparation of the substrate and etching thereof prior to sputtering are virtually eliminated. Films deposited by sputtering exhibit uniform coverage and thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1990
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventors: Howard A. Fraenkel, Joseph M. Ilardi, Bruce E. Kurtz, Frank A. Spicciati
  • Patent number: 4897338
    Abstract: This method relates to a process for manufacturing printed circuit boards having high density, fine lines of printed conductors. Extremely straight, vertical walls are formed in the radiation light curable dielectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1990
    Assignee: Allied-Signal Inc.
    Inventors: Frank A. Spicciati, Howard A. Fraenkel, Joseph M. Ilardi, Bruce E. Kurtz
  • Patent number: 4513154
    Abstract: A process for consecutive-competitive gas phase halogenation of organic compounds, i.e. alkanes, alkenes and benzene, alkyl benzenes and alkenyl benzenes containing labile hydrogens and having no more than 12 and 9 carbon atoms, respectively, in a thin reaction film on the surface of a porous barrier for production of highly halogenated products by substantial suppression of diffusion of partially halogenated intermediates away from the reaction film is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1985
    Assignee: Allied Corporation
    Inventor: Bruce E. Kurtz
  • Patent number: 4505786
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for conditioning the surfaces of natural and synthetic plastic materials for electroless plating of a metal coating thereon by exposing such materials to an atmosphere comprising an effective amount of ozone and thereafter contacting said exposed materials with an effective amount of a conditioning solvent, such as an aqueous solution of sodium, potassium or lithium hydroxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1985
    Assignee: Allied Corporation
    Inventors: Albert A. Birkmaier, Gary A. Harpell, Bruce E. Kurtz, Gordhanbhai N. Patel, Rustom P. Poncha, Adam L. Skovrinski, James M. Lesco
  • Patent number: 4488948
    Abstract: A cathode assembly for use in an electrolyzer cell is provided which comprises at least one separating means adjacent to a face of said cathode assembly and comprising a fluid-impervious material and extending diagonally upwards from a point on a first side of said cathode to a point short of a second side opposite the first side of said cathode, said first separating means having a positive monotonic slope with reference to said first side and to a third side adjacent to said first side and thereby separating said face into at least two interconnected regions. The preferred embodiment of the cathode assembly comprises two separating means equipped with downwardly disposed flanges affixed to an edge of said separating means and extending substantially along the full length of said separating means. A process employing the cathode assembly is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1984
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Eric H. Larson, Bruce E. Kurtz, Robert H. Fitch
  • Patent number: 4422907
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for conditioning the surfaces of natural and synthetic plastic materials for electroless plating of a metal coating thereon by exposing such materials to an atmosphere comprising an effective amount of ozone and thereafter contacting said exposed materials with an effective amount of a conditioning solvent, such as an aqueous solution of sodium, potassium or lithium hydroxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1983
    Assignee: Allied Corporation
    Inventors: Albert A. Birkmaier, Gary A. Harpell, Bruce E. Kurtz, Gordhanbhai N. Patel, Rustom P. Poncha, Adam L. Skovrinski, James M. Lesco
  • Patent number: 4339415
    Abstract: A process for the recovery of soluble alumina values from alumina-bearing ores comprising simultaneously contacting a stream containing an effective amount of a reducing agent such as SO.sub.2 and a stream containing an effective amount of an oxidizing agent such as Cl.sub.2 with an aqueous slurry of the alumina-bearing ores for a time sufficient to remove at least about 50 weight percent of the soluble alumina values from said ores is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1982
    Assignee: Allied Corporation
    Inventors: John I. Choi, Bruce E. Kurtz, Anatoli Omelian
  • Patent number: 4204920
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing chlorine and caustic soda in an electrolytic membrane cell which comprises providing a pressure differential between the anode compartment and the cathode compartment sufficient to prevent substantial contact of the membrane with the anode, and reducing fluctuations in the pressure differential by allowing depleted sodium chloride brine and chlorine gas to flow freely from the anode compartment to a brine collection point. Also, the caustic soda and hydrogen gas produced in the cathode compartment are allowed to flow freely from the cathode compartment to a caustic soda collection point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1980
    Assignee: Allied Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce E. Kurtz, Robert H. Fitch
  • Patent number: 4198277
    Abstract: An electrolysis process is disclosed in which catholyte is transferred serially from one cell, in a bank of a plurality of cells, to the cathode compartment of a succeeding cell in the bank. The transfer is accomplished by means of a gas-lift in which gas, present in the cathode compartment rises through a confined space, which is dimensioned such that the gas serves to lift the catholyte upward to a point where the gas and liquid separate and the liquid catholyte is allowed to fall freely to a collection point from which it is introduced into the cathode compartment of a succeeding cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1980
    Assignee: Allied Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce E. Kurtz, Robert H. Fitch
  • Patent number: 4197182
    Abstract: A cathode assembly for a plural cell electrolyzer is provided which comprises a rigid cathode support joined to a cathode by a first set of connecting members and to an anode in an adjacent cell by a second set of connecting members. The cathode support and first set of connectors enable the cathode to maintain an essentially flat surface. The support and second set of connectors stabilize the cell frame and enable the anode likewise to maintain a flat surface. Thus, the electrodes in a cell may be set accurately flat and parallel to minimize the interelectrode gap and the cell voltage drop due to the electrolyte path, and, consequently, to improve cell efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1980
    Assignee: Allied Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Robert H. Fitch, Bruce E. Kurtz
  • Patent number: 4187253
    Abstract: Process is provided for isothermal chlorination of certain hydrocarbons wherein a gas containing the selected hydrocarbon is passed to a first elongated reaction zone, and a gas containing chlorine is passed into a second elongated gas zone positioned along said first zone, said first and second zones being separated by a porous member. The pressure of gases within the second zone is maintained in excess of the pressure in the first zone for diffusion of chlorine through the porous member into the first zone, which is maintained under conditions sufficient to effect reaction therein of at least a portion of diffused chlorine with the hydrocarbon for production of the desired chlorinated hydrocarbon. The reaction product containing the desired chlorinated hydrocarbon is discharged from the first zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1975
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1980
    Assignee: Allied Chemical Corporation
    Inventor: Bruce E. Kurtz
  • Patent number: 4181587
    Abstract: A process for producing chlorine and caustic soda is described involving a bank of electrolytic membrane cells arranged for series catholyte flow. Power efficiency is improved by maintaining at least two of the initial cells in the bank in parallel catholyte flow, combining the catholyte streams from such initial cells and introducing the combined catholyte into the cathode compartment of one or more succeeding cells in the bank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1980
    Assignee: Allied Chemical Corporation
    Inventor: Bruce E. Kurtz
  • Patent number: 4153532
    Abstract: A cell frame transfer cart for vertical and horizontal displacement of a segment of a plural cell electrolyzer is comprised of spaced main and secondary platforms, a vertical displacement member disposed intermediate the platforms, and a support member for supporting the main platform and permitting horizontal displacement of a selected segment of a plural cell electrolyzer when the vertical displacement member is actuated. An assembly including the present transfer cart, and a method for disassembly of a plural cell electrolyzer, are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1979
    Assignee: Allied Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Robert H. Fitch, Bruce E. Kurtz, Noel Y. Rothmayer
  • Patent number: 4131626
    Abstract: A process is described for producing bromine which comprises heating a bromide salt at a temperature of about 500.degree. to 1000.degree. C in the presence of an oxygen-containing gas, silicon dioxide and an oxidation catalyst preferably selected from the group consisting of B.sub.2 O.sub.3, CaO, Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, Na.sub.2 B.sub.4 O.sub.7, ZnO, MgO, MnO.sub.2, TiO.sub.2, NaNO.sub.2 and mixtures thereof. A by-product silicate can optionally be formed which is useful in the glass industry.The process is useful in many industrial applications, especially in the formation of ethylene dichloride, an intermediate used in the manufacture of vinyl chloride monomer, which involves reacting ethylene with bromine to produce ethylene dibromide, reacting the ethylene dibromide with a chloride salt to produce ethylene dichloride and a bromide salt, and oxidizing the bromide salt to bromine for reaction with ethylene to complete the cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1978
    Assignee: Allied Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Lakshmi P. Sharma, Bruce E. Kurtz
  • Patent number: 4129495
    Abstract: A retaining and restraining support structure for a plural cell electrolyzer is comprised of a sleeper assembly for supporting the electrolyzer cell along its longitudinal dimension, and a tension bar assembly for maintaining each of the cells in a substantially vertical plane, while insuring good mechanical connection and fluid communication therebetween, wherein the tension bar assembly includes plural longitudinal, adjustable tension bars and diagonal, adjustable tie bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1978
    Assignee: Allied Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Robert H. Fitch, Bruce E. Kurtz, Bronislaw B. Smura
  • Patent number: 4057474
    Abstract: In the process of making aqueous alkali metal hydroxide solution and diatomic halide gas by electrolysis of aqueous alkali metal halide solution in a bank of cationic permselective membrane cells, current efficiency is improved and/or concentration of the alkali metal hydroxide solution product is increased by feeding water to the cathode compartment of the first cell and then transferring the catholyte serially from cell to cell at incrementally increasing alkali metal hydroxide concentration, and withdrawing alkali metal hydroxide product solution from the last cell of the bank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1976
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1977
    Assignee: Allied Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Bruce E. Kurtz, Joel P. Guptill, Robert H. Fitch