Patents by Inventor David R. Ball

David R. Ball 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: 7658903
    Abstract: A highly isotropic graphite useful for, inter alia, nuclear applications is disclosed, which has a ash content of less than 300 ppm and a boron equivalence of less than about 2 ppm without requiring a post graphitization purification step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: GrafTech International Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas J. Miller, David R. Ball
  • Patent number: 7658902
    Abstract: A process for producing a graphite article having a CTE of less than about 2.0 ppm/° C. over the temperature range of from 30° C. to 100° C. and an isotropy ratio of less than about 1.5 also advantageously having a thermal shock resistance parameter of greater than about 150×103 W/m in both the with-grain and against-grain directions, and the graphite so produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: GrafTech International Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Tracy Albers, Douglas J. Miller, Irwin C. Lewis, David R. Ball
  • Publication number: 20090324485
    Abstract: A highly isotropic graphite useful for, inter alia, nuclear applications is disclosed, which has a ash content of less than 300 ppm and a boron equivalence of less than about 2 ppm without requiring a post graphitization purification step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Douglas J. Miller, David R. Ball
  • Publication number: 20080063590
    Abstract: A process for producing a graphite article having a CTE of less than about 2.0 ppm/° C. over the temperature range of from 30° C. to 100° C. and an isotropy ratio of less than about 1.5 also advantageously having a thermal shock resistance parameter of greater than about 150×103 W/m in both the with-grain and against-grain directions, and the graphite so produced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Inventors: Douglas J. Miller, Irwin C. Lewis, David R. Ball
  • Patent number: 5118287
    Abstract: A process for treating high sulfur petroleum coke to inhibit puffing is disclosed wherein particles of the petroleum coke are contacted with a compound containing an alkali or alkaline earth metal selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium, at an elevated temperature above that at which the alkali or alkaline earth metal compound begins to react with carbon, but below the temperature at which the coke particles would begin to puff in the absence of the compound. The coke particles are maintained at an elevated temperature for a sufficient period of time to permit the reaction to proceed and allow products of reaction to penetrate into the particles and form an alkali-or alkaline-earth-metal-containing deposit throughout the mass of the particles; and then cooling the so-treated coke particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Assignee: UCAR Carbon Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas H. Orac, Herbert C. Quandt, David R. Ball
  • Patent number: 5110359
    Abstract: A process for treating high sulfur petroleum coke to inhibit puffing is disclosed wherein particles of the petroleum coke are contacted with a compound containing an alkali or alkaline earth metal selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium, at an elevated temperature above that at which the alkali or alkaline earth metal compound begins to react with carbon, but below the temperature at which the coke particles would begin to puff in the absence of the compound. The coke particles are maintained at the elevated temperature for a sufficient period of time to permit the reaction to proceed and allow products of reaction to penetrate into the particles and form an alkali-or alkaline-earth-metal-containing deposit throughout the mass of the particles; and then cooling the so-treated coke particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1992
    Assignee: Ucar Carbon Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas H. Orac, Herbert C. Quandt, David R. Ball
  • Patent number: 5102855
    Abstract: Process for producing activated carbon, preferably high surface area activated carbon, from inexpensive cellulosic precursors, such as paper, by pretreating the cellulosic precursor with an activating agent, such as phosphoric acid, followed by carbonization in an inert atmosphere at an elevated temperature to produce activated carbon. The activated carbon can be further activated to increase its surface area by heating it in an oxidizing atmosphere at an elevated temperature to yield activated carbon having a surface area of at least 100 m.sup.2 /g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1992
    Assignee: UCAR Carbon Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald A. Greinke, Irwin C. Lewis, David R. Ball
  • Patent number: 4875979
    Abstract: A process for treating high sulfur petroleum coke to inhibit puffing is disclosed wherein particles of the petroleum coke are contacted, in the absence of a binder, with a compound containing an alkali or alkaline earth metal selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium, at an elevated temperature above that at which the alkali or alkaline earth metal compound begins to react with carbon, but below the temperature at which the coke particles would begin to puff in the absence of the compound. The coke particles are maintained at the elevated temperature for a sufficient period of time to permit the reaction to proceed and allow products of reaction to penetrate into the particles and form an alkali-or alkaline-earth-metal-containing deposit throughout the mass of the particles; and then cooling the so-treated coke particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1989
    Assignee: Union Carbide Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas H. Orac, Herbert C. Quandt, David R. Ball