Patents by Inventor Douglas E Wolfe

Douglas E Wolfe 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: 20230407453
    Abstract: A method of providing nuclear fuel cladding in a radioactive fuel reactor includes coating the nuclear fuel cladding with a coating system and exposing the nuclear fuel cladding in pure water at at least 360° C. and a saturation pressure of 18.7 MPa, where the coating system is maintained without spallation or delamination after at least 3 days. The coating system includes a multilayer coating on the substrate including (i) one or more layers including at least a ternary metal compound and at least a binary metal compound and (ii) a top coat layer that does not include aluminum, where the ternary metal compound includes TiCrN, TiNbN, TiSiN, TiHfN, TaHfN, TaNbN, TiCrC, TiNbC, TiSiC, TiHfC, TaHfC, TaNbC, TiCrCN, TiNbCN, TiSiCN, TiHfCN, TaHfCN, TaNbCN, or combinations thereof and the binary metal compound includes CrN, NbN, TaN, Si3N4, HfN, CrC, HfC, TaC, NbC or combinations thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Douglas E. Wolfe, Arthur M.T. Motta, Timothy J. Eden
  • Patent number: 11739410
    Abstract: High temperature stable thermal barrier coatings useful for substrates that form component parts of engines such as a component from a gas turbine engine exposed to high temperatures are provided. The thermal barrier coatings include a multiphase composite and/or a multilayer coating comprised of two or more phases with at least one phase providing a low thermal conductivity and at least one phase providing mechanical and erosion durability. Such low thermal conductivity phase can include a rare earth zirconate and such mechanical durability phase can include a rare earth a rare earth aluminate. The different phases are thermochemically compatible even at high temperatures above about 1200° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: THE PENN STATE RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Douglas E. Wolfe, Michael P. Schmitt
  • Patent number: 11630371
    Abstract: An optical filter includes a substrate; a first mirror on the substrate; a cavity layer on the first mirror; and a second mirror on the cavity layer. Each of the first and second mirrors provide high reflection, low transmission and low absorption over a targeted stopband. The cavity layer defines a resonant transmission band within the targeted stopband with the resonant band wavelength depending on the optical thickness of the cavity layer. The cavity layer includes a material having a non-linear response to incident irradiance such that cavity absorption changes with irradiance and suppresses cavity resonance at high irradiance. The material having the non-linear response to the incident irradiance includes a two-dimensional (2D) material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: HAMR Industries LLC
    Inventors: Michael P. Schmitt, Douglas E. Wolfe
  • Publication number: 20220206359
    Abstract: An optical filter includes a substrate; a first mirror on the substrate; a cavity layer on the first mirror; and a second mirror on the cavity layer. Each of the first and second mirrors provide high reflection, low transmission and low absorption over a targeted stopband. The cavity layer defines a resonant transmission band within the targeted stopband with the resonant band wavelength depending on the optical thickness of the cavity layer. The cavity layer includes a material having a non-linear response to incident irradiance such that cavity absorption changes with irradiance and suppresses cavity resonance at high irradiance. The material having the non-linear response to the incident irradiance includes a two-dimensional (2D) material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Applicant: HAMR Industries LLC
    Inventors: Michael P. SCHMITT, Douglas E. WOLFE
  • Publication number: 20180294062
    Abstract: Coating used for radioactive fuel or a structural component in radioactive fuel reactors, e.g., nuclear fuel cladding alloys, can include a ternary monolithic coating or multiple layers of one or more layers of TiAlN TiZrN, TiCrN, TiNbN and/or CrN, ZrN, NbN, TiN, TaN, HfN. TiHfN, TaHfN, TaNbN, or mixed combinations and/or CrN, ZrN, NbN, TiN, TaN, Si3N4, and/or HfN. In addition, one or more layers can be comprised of a nitride, oxide, or carbide or mixed combination (i.e., carbonides, oxynitrides, oxycarbides, etc.) from Ti, Al, Zr, Cr, Si, Nb, Hf, or mixed combination (i.e., TiAlC1-xNx). The multilayer coating can be doped with a dopant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Publication date: October 11, 2018
    Inventors: Douglas E. WOLFE, Arthur M. T. MOTTA, Timothy J. EDEN
  • Publication number: 20170362692
    Abstract: High temperature stable thermal barrier coatings useful for substrates that form component parts of engines such as a component from a gas turbine engine exposed to high temperatures are provided. The thermal barrier coatings include a multiphase composite and/or a multilayer coating comprised of two or more phases with at least one phase providing a low thermal conductivity and at least one phase providing mechanical and erosion durability. Such low thermal conductivity phase can include a rare earth zirconate and such mechanical durability phase can include a rare earth a rare earth aluminate. The different phases are thermochemically compatible even at high temperatures above about 1200° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Publication date: December 21, 2017
    Inventors: Douglas E. WOLFE, Michael P. SCHMITT
  • Patent number: 9284487
    Abstract: The present invention provides continuous, non-hazardous sterilization and anti-microorganism protection by the generation of interactive, emission responsive surfaces, coatings, and coating systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventor: Douglas E. Wolfe
  • Patent number: 8674314
    Abstract: The present invention provides an innovative solid-state neutron detector that exhibits superior neutron-sensitivities. One embodiment of the present invention includes a Gadolinium-oxide (Gd2O3)-based neutron detector that is highly sensitive to the presence of neutrons, and experiences significant changes in film conductivity, capacitance or both as a result of thermal neutron exposure thereby providing for detection of nuclear radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventors: Joshua A. Robinson, Douglas E. Wolfe
  • Patent number: 8558194
    Abstract: The present invention provides in-situ health monitoring and non-destructive evaluation and early detection of corrosion, damage, failure, flaws, defects, and subsurface inspection by the generation of electromagnetic responsive surfaces, coatings and coating systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventors: Douglas E. Wolfe, Matthew Kelly, Brian M. Gabriel
  • Publication number: 20110171062
    Abstract: The present invention provides continuous, non-hazardous sterilization and anti-microorganism protection by the generation of interactive, emission responsive surfaces, coatings, and coating systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: THE PENN STATE RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventor: Douglas E. Wolfe
  • Publication number: 20100327171
    Abstract: The present invention provides an innovative solid-state neutron detector that exhibits superior neutron-sensitivities. One embodiment of the present invention includes a Gadolinium-oxide (Gd2O3)-based neutron detector that is highly sensitive to the presence of neutrons, and experiences significant changes in film conductivity, capacitance or both as a result of thermal neutron exposure thereby providing for detection of nuclear radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Applicant: THE PENN STATE RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Joshua A. Robinson, Douglas E. Wolfe
  • Patent number: 7821150
    Abstract: An ocean energy harvesting system utilizes horizontal structural members that rotate in response to wave motion. The structural members are designed to capture energy in a line array that replicates the shape of the waves as they pass through the ocean. A generator platform is placed in the ocean environment or on the shore, and the structural members rotate under the platform or around a pivot post placed in proximity to the platform. The rotation drives a generator shaft due to direct attachment to the structural member or from a cable attached to a structural member some distance from the platform. The structural members can be of substantial length depending on the prevailing wave conditions at the site and the desired amount of energy capture. The system adjusts to differing water levels due to tidal shifts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Inventor: Douglas E Wolfe
  • Publication number: 20100260926
    Abstract: The present invention provides in-situ health monitoring and non-destructive evaluation and early detection of corrosion, damage, failure, flaws, defects, and subsurface inspection by the generation of electromagnetic responsive surfaces, coatings and coating systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: THE PENN STATE RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Douglas E. Wolfe, Matthew Kelly, Brian M. Gabriel
  • Publication number: 20070164569
    Abstract: An ocean energy harvesting system utilizes horizontal structural members that rotate in response to wave motion. The structural members are designed to capture energy in a line array that replicates the shape of the waves as they pass through the ocean. A generator platform is placed in the ocean environment or on the shore, and the structural members rotate under the platform or around a pivot post placed in proximity to the platform. The rotation drives a generator shaft due to direct attachment to the structural member or from a cable attached to a structural member some distance from the platform. The structural members can be of substantial length depending on the prevailing wave conditions at the site and the desired amount of energy capture. The system adjusts to differing water levels due to tidal shifts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Applicant: DOUGLAS E. WOLFE
    Inventor: Douglas E. Wolfe
  • Patent number: 5778122
    Abstract: The fiber optic interconnection apparatus includes a receptacle mounted at least partially within a wall of an enclosure, such as an optical network unit, a network interface device or a splice closure, and a fiber optic cable assembly for mating with the receptacle. By mating the fiber optic cable assembly with the receptacle in a predetermined aligned manner, one or more optical fibers of the fiber optic cable on which the fiber optic cable assembly is mounted can be optically interconnected with respective optical fibers held by the receptacle which extend through the receptacle and into the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Siecor Corporation
    Inventors: Markus A. Giebel, Terry L. Cooke, Thomas Theuerkorn, Douglas E. Wolfe
  • Patent number: 5708305
    Abstract: A multi-tiered support structure, with each of the tiers having a horizontally rotating pivoted arm having a float and paddle arrangement on one end and the opposite end is attached to an air compressor. As the waves hit the paddles the pivot arms will operate the compressors to store energy. This energy can then be used to produce electrical or other types of energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Inventor: Douglas E. Wolfe