Patents by Inventor Charles B. Sweeney

Charles B. Sweeney 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: 11712822
    Abstract: A microwave-induced heating of CNT filled (or coated) polymer composites for enhancing inter-bead diffusive bonding of fused filament fabricated parts. The technique incorporates microwave absorbing nanomaterials (carbon nanotubes (CNTs)) onto the surface or throughout the volume of 3D printer polymer filament to increase the inter-bead bond strength following a post microwave irradiation treatment and/or in-situ focused microwave beam during printing. The overall strength of the final 3D printed part will be dramatically increased and the isotropic mechanical properties of fused filament part will approach or exceed conventionally manufactured counterparts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Texas Tech University System
    Inventors: Charles B. Sweeney, Micah J. Green, Mohammad Saed
  • Patent number: 11623867
    Abstract: Methods and reactors for electrochemically expanding a parent material and expanded parent materials are described. Current methods of expanding parent materials incompletely-expand parent material, requiring expensive and time-consuming separation of expanded parent material from unexpanded parent materials. This problem is addressed by the methods and reactor for electrochemically expanding a parent material described herein, which during operation maintain electrical connectivity between the parent material and an electrical power source. The resulting materials described herein have a greater proportion of expanded parent material relative to unexpanded parent material compared to those made according to others methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: The Texas A&M University System
    Inventors: Thomas C. Achee, Micah J. Green, Charles B. Sweeney, Wanmei Sun
  • Publication number: 20210395091
    Abstract: Methods and reactors for electrochemically expanding a parent material and expanded parent materials are described. Current methods of expanding parent materials incompletely-expand parent material, requiring expensive and time-consuming separation of expanded parent material from unexpanded parent materials. This problem is addressed by the methods and reactor for electrochemically expanding a parent material described herein, which during operation maintain electrical connectivity between the parent material and an electrical power source. The resulting materials described herein have a greater proportion of expanded parent material relative to unexpanded parent material compared to those made according to others methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2021
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Applicant: The Texas A&M University System
    Inventors: Thomas C. Achee, Micah J. Green, Charles B. Sweeney, Wanmei Sun
  • Patent number: 11066303
    Abstract: Methods and reactors for electrochemically expanding a parent material and expanded parent materials are described. Current methods of expanding parent materials incompletely-expand parent material, requiring expensive and time-consuming separation of expanded parent material from unexpanded parent materials. This problem is addressed by the methods and reactor for electrochemically expanding a parent material described herein, which during operation maintain electrical connectivity between the parent material and an electrical power source. The resulting materials described herein have a greater proportion of expanded parent material relative to unexpanded parent material compared to those made according to others methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: The Texas A&M University System
    Inventors: Thomas C. Achee, Micah J. Green, Charles B. Sweeney, Wanmei Sun
  • Publication number: 20200180219
    Abstract: The invention relates to additive manufacturing systems and methods using thermally cross-linkable materials. The thermally cross-linkable material includes at least one thermally cross-linkable polymeric material and an amount of at least one electromagnetic energy susceptor therein. A system with at least one print head and an electromagnetic energy generator is provided to produce electromagnetic energy in the area of the thermally cross-linkable material after being dispensed from the print head. This causes heating of the electromagnetic energy susceptor to cause curing of the thermally cross-linkable material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2017
    Publication date: June 11, 2020
    Inventors: Morgan G.B. Odom, Micah J. Green, Charles B. Sweeney
  • Publication number: 20200009850
    Abstract: A microwave-induced heating of CNT filled (or coated) polymer composites for enhancing inter-bead diffusive bonding of fused filament fabricated parts. The technique incorporates microwave absorbing nanomaterials (carbon nanotubes (CNTs)) onto the surface or throughout the volume of 3D printer polymer filament to increase the inter-bead bond strength following a post microwave irradiation treatment and/or in-situ focused microwave beam during printing. The overall strength of the final 3D printed part will be dramatically increased and the isotropic mechanical properties of fused filament part will approach or exceed conventionally manufactured counterparts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Applicant: TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
    Inventors: Charles B. Sweeney, Micah J. Green, Mohammad Saed
  • Patent number: 10414147
    Abstract: A electromagnetic wave-induced heating of CNT filled (or coated) polymer composites for enhancing inter-bead diffusive bonding of fused filament fabricated parts. The technique incorporates electromagnetic wave absorbing nanomaterials (carbon nanotubes (CNTs)) onto the surface or throughout the volume of 3D printer polymer filament to increase the inter-bead bond strength following a post electromagnetic wave irradiation treatment and/or in-situ focused electromagnetic beam during printing. The overall strength of the final 3D printed part will be dramatically increased and the isotropic mechanical properties of fused filament part will approach or exceed conventionally manufactured counterparts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
    Inventors: Charles B. Sweeney, Micah J. Green, Mohammad Saed
  • Publication number: 20190233291
    Abstract: Methods and reactors for electrochemically expanding a parent material and expanded parent materials are described. Current methods of expanding parent materials incompletely-expand parent material, requiring expensive and time-consuming separation of expanded parent material from unexpanded parent materials. This problem is addressed by the methods and reactor for electrochemically expanding a parent material described herein, which during operation maintain electrical connectivity between the parent material and an electrical power source. The resulting materials described herein have a greater proportion of expanded parent material relative to unexpanded parent material compared to those made according to others methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Applicant: The Texas A&M University System
    Inventors: Thomas C. Achee, Micah J. Green, Charles B. Sweeney, Wanmei Sun
  • Publication number: 20160325491
    Abstract: A microwave-induced heating of CNT filled (or coated) polymer composites for enhancing inter-bead diffusive bonding of fused filament fabricated parts. The technique incorporates microwave absorbing nanomaterials (carbon nanotubes (CNTs)) onto the surface or throughout the volume of 3D printer polymer filament to increase the inter-bead bond strength following a post microwave irradiation treatment and/or in-situ focused microwave beam during printing. The overall strength of the final 3D printed part will be dramatically increased and the isotropic mechanical properties of fused filament part will approach or exceed conventionally manufactured counterparts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2014
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Applicant: TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
    Inventors: Charles B. Sweeney, Micah J. Green, Mohammad Saed