Patents by Inventor Dwight D. Erickson

Dwight D. Erickson 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: 20200231851
    Abstract: A method of making elongated abrasive particles includes five steps. Step 1) includes providing a mold having parallel linear grooves, partially interrupted at predetermined intervals by transverse obstructions. Step 2) includes filling the parallel linear grooves with a flowable abrasive particle precursor composition. Step 3) includes at least partially drying the flowable abrasive particle precursor composition to form an at least partially dried abrasive particle precursor composition. Step 4) includes separating that composition from the mold, thereby forming elongated precursor abrasive particles having a shape corresponding to portions of the parallel linear grooves disposed between the transverse obstructions. At least one of the first and second opposite ends of the elongated precursor abrasive particles comprises both a molded portion and a fractured portion. Step 5) converts the elongated precursor abrasive particles into elongated abrasive particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Dwight D. Erickson, Negus B. Adefris
  • Patent number: 10669461
    Abstract: A method of making shaped abrasive particles including forming an abrasive flake comprising a plurality of precursor shaped abrasive particles and a frangible support joining the precursor shaped abrasive particles together; transporting the abrasive flake through a rotary kiln to sinter the abrasive flake; and breaking the sintered abrasive flake into individual shaped abrasive particles. The method is useful to make small shaped abrasive particles having insufficient mass to be efficiently individually sintered in a rotary kiln without joining two or more of the shaped abrasive particles together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventor: Dwight D. Erickson
  • Publication number: 20200140733
    Abstract: The formed ceramic abrasive particle includes a plurality of ceramic oxides. The particle further includes a first plurality of oxides, a second plurality of oxides, or a mixture thereof. The first plurality of oxides includes an oxide of yttrium, praseodymium, samarium, ytterbium, neodymium, lanthanum, gadolinium, dysprosium, erbium, or a combination thereof. The second plurality of oxides includes an oxide of iron, magnesium, zinc, silicon, cobalt, nickel, zirconium, hafnium, chromium, cerium, titanium, or a combination thereof. The formed ceramic abrasive particle further includes a plurality of edges, each edge having a length independently ranging from about 0.1 ?m to about 5000 ?m. The formed ceramic abrasive particle further includes a tip defined by a junction of at least two of the edges, the tip can have a radius of curvature ranging from about 0.5 ?m to about 80 ?m.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Laura M. Lara Rodriguez, Dwight D. Erickson, Chainika Jangu, Amelia W. Koenig
  • Publication number: 20190338172
    Abstract: Sintered abrasive particles have a cellular microstructure comprising alpha alumina crystal grains of alpha alumina having a maximum dimension of less than about 3 microns are also disclosed. The sintered abrasive particles have an average particle size of less than or equal to 500 microns, and are essentially free of seed particles and alpha alumina grain size modifiers. Abrasive articles comprising a binder and a plurality of the sintered abrasive particles are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Publication date: November 7, 2019
    Inventors: Dwight D. Erickson, Anatoly Z. Rosenflanz
  • Patent number: 10400146
    Abstract: A method of making sintered abrasive particles includes passing alumina precursor particles through a flame under conditions such that they are converted to alpha alumina. The precursor particles comprise a precursor of alpha alumina and have an average particle size of less than or equal to 500 microns. Sintered abrasive particles have a cellular microstructure comprising alpha alumina crystal grains of alpha alumina having a maximum dimension of less than about 3 microns are also disclosed. The sintered abrasive particles have an average particle size of less than or equal to 500 microns, and are essentially free of seed particles and alpha alumina grain size modifiers. Abrasive articles comprising a binder and a plurality of the sintered abrasive particles are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Dwight D. Erickson, Anatoly Z. Rosenflanz
  • Publication number: 20190233693
    Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed relate to shaped abrasive particles having sharp tips, methods of making the shaped abrasive particles, methods of abrading a substrate with the shaped abrasive particles, and coated abrasive articles including the shaped abrasive particles. The shaped abrasive particle includes a ceramic, has a polygonal cross-sectional shape along a longitudinal axis of the shaped abrasive particle, and at least one tip of the shaped abrasive particle has a radius of curvature of less than or equal to about 19.2 microns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Dwight D. Erickson, Ian R. Owen, Shawn C. Dodds, Matthew S. Stay, Scott R. Culler, John T. Boden, William C. Quade, Joseph D. Solem, Negus B. Adefris, Chainika Jangu, Thomas J. Anderson, Gregory S. Mueller, William Blake Kolb
  • Publication number: 20190106362
    Abstract: An elongate shaped abrasive particle comprises an elongate shaped ceramic body having opposed first and second ends joined to each other by at least two longitudinal sidewalls. At least one of the at least two longitudinal sidewalls is concave along its length. At least one of the first and second ends is a fractured surface. Methods of making elongate shaped abrasive particles and abrasive articles including them are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2017
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventor: Dwight D. Erickson
  • Publication number: 20190092990
    Abstract: Abrasive particles comprising shaped abrasive particles each having a sidewall, each of the shaped abrasive particles comprising alpha alumina and having a first face and a second face separated by a sidewall and having a maximum thickness, T; and the shaped abrasive particles further comprising a plurality of grooves on the second face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: John T. Boden, Dwight D. Erickson, Scott R. Culler, Negus B. Adefris, John D. Haas
  • Publication number: 20190092991
    Abstract: Shaped abrasive particles comprising alpha alumina and having a cross-sectional shape along a longitudinal axis of the shaped abrasive particles, the cross-sectional shape comprising a non-circular cross-sectional plane, and the shaped abrasive particles comprise an Average Roundness Factor of between about 15% to 0%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventor: Dwight D. Erickson
  • Patent number: 10137556
    Abstract: Shaped abrasive particles comprising alpha alumina and having a cross-sectional shape along a longitudinal axis of the shaped abrasive particles, the cross-sectional shape comprising a non-circular cross-sectional plane, and the shaped abrasive particles comprise an Average Roundness Factor of between about 15% to 0%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventor: Dwight D. Erickson
  • Publication number: 20180223145
    Abstract: Abrasive particles comprising shaped abrasive particles each having a sidewall, each of the shaped abrasive particles comprising alpha alumina and having a first face and a second face separated by a sidewall and having a maximum thickness, T; and the shaped abrasive particles further comprising a plurality of grooves on the second face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Publication date: August 9, 2018
    Inventors: John T. Boden, Dwight D. Erickson, Scott R. Culler, Negus B. Adefris, John D. Haas
  • Patent number: 10000677
    Abstract: A method includes: providing a mold having a plurality of mold cavities, wherein each mold cavity is bounded by a plurality of faces joined along common edges; filling at least some of the mold cavities with a sol-gel composition that includes a release agent dispersed therein; at least partially drying the sol-gel composition thereby forming shaped ceramic precursor particles; calcining at least a portion of the shaped ceramic precursor particles to provide calcined shaped ceramic precursor particles; and sintering at least a portion of the calcined shaped ceramic precursor particles to provide ceramic shaped abrasive particles. A sol-gel composition, shaped ceramic precursor particles, and ceramic shaped abrasive particles associated with practice of the method are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: John T. Boden, Scott R. Culler, Dwight D. Erickson
  • Patent number: 9938439
    Abstract: Abrasive particles comprising shaped abrasive particles each having a sidewall, each of the shaped abrasive particles comprising alpha alumina and having a first face and a second face separated by a sidewall and having a maximum thickness, T; and the shaped abrasive particles further comprising a plurality of grooves on the second face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: John T. Boden, Dwight D. Erickson, Scott R. Culler, Negus B. Adefris, John D. Haas
  • Publication number: 20180066169
    Abstract: A method of making shaped abrasive particles including forming an abrasive flake comprising a plurality of precursor shaped abrasive particles and a frangible support joining the precursor shaped abrasive particles together; transporting the abrasive flake through a rotary kiln to sinter the abrasive flake; and breaking the sintered abrasive flake into individual shaped abrasive particles. The method is useful to make small shaped abrasive particles having insufficient mass to be efficiently individually sintered in a rotary kiln without joining two or more of the shaped abrasive particles together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Publication date: March 8, 2018
    Inventor: Dwight D. Erickson
  • Patent number: 9890309
    Abstract: Abrasive particles comprising shaped abrasive particles each having a sidewall, each of the shaped abrasive particles comprising alpha alumina and having a first face and a second face separated by a sidewall and having a maximum thickness, T; and the shaped abrasive particles further comprising a plurality of grooves on the second face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: John T. Boden, Dwight D. Erickson, Scott R. Culler, Negus B. Adefris, John D. Haas
  • Publication number: 20180010026
    Abstract: A method includes: providing a mold having a plurality of mold cavities, wherein each mold cavity is bounded by a plurality of faces joined along common edges; filling at least some of the mold cavities with a sol-gel composition that includes a release agent dispersed therein; at least partially drying the sol-gel composition thereby forming shaped ceramic precursor particles; calcining at least a portion of the shaped ceramic precursor particles to provide calcined shaped ceramic precursor particles; and sintering at least a portion of the calcined shaped ceramic precursor particles to provide ceramic shaped abrasive particles. A sol-gel composition, shaped ceramic precursor particles, and ceramic shaped abrasive particles associated with practice of the method are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Publication date: January 11, 2018
    Inventors: John T. Boden, Scott R. Culler, Dwight D. Erickson
  • Patent number: 9822291
    Abstract: A method of making shaped abrasive particles including forming an abrasive flake comprising a plurality of precursor shaped abrasive particles and a frangible support joining the precursor shaped abrasive particles together; transporting the abrasive flake through a rotary kiln to sinter the abrasive flake; and breaking the sintered abrasive flake into individual shaped abrasive particles. The method is useful to make small shaped abrasive particles having insufficient mass to be efficiently individually sintered in a rotary kiln without joining two or more of the shaped abrasive particles together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Dwight D. Erickson
  • Patent number: 9657207
    Abstract: A method of making shaped ceramic abrasive particles includes cutting a layer of ceramic precursor material using a laser beam and forming shaped ceramic precursor particles. Further thermal processing provides shaped ceramic abrasive particles. Shaped ceramic abrasive particles producible by the methods and abrasive articles containing them are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Dennis G. Welygan, Charles J. Studiner, IV, Dwight D. Erickson
  • Patent number: 9446502
    Abstract: Precursor alpha alumina abrasive particles in a mold are subjected to a drying process that cracks or fractures at least a majority of the precursor abrasive particles into at least two pieces thereby producing abrasive shards having a smaller size than the mold cavity from which they were made. The smaller abrasive shards, once formed, could be reassembled like jigsaw puzzle pieces to reproduce the original cavity shape of the mold from which they were made. The cracking or fracturing of the precursor abrasive particles is believed to occur by ensuring that the surface tension of the abrasive dispersion to the walls of the mold is greater than the internal attractive forces of the abrasive dispersion as the abrasive dispersion is dried within the mold cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Dwight D. Erickson, Scott R. Culler, Negus B. Adefris, John T. Boden, John D. Haas
  • Publication number: 20160068729
    Abstract: A method of making sintered abrasive particles includes passing alumina precursor particles through a flame under conditions such that they are converted to alpha alumina. The precursor particles comprise a precursor of alpha alumina and have an average particle size of less than or equal to 500 microns. Sintered abrasive particles have a cellular microstructure comprising alpha alumina crystal grains of alpha alumina having a maximum dimension of less than about 3 microns are also disclosed. The sintered abrasive particles have an average particle size of less than or equal to 500 microns, and are essentially free of seed particles and alpha alumina grain size modifiers. Abrasive articles comprising a binder and a plurality of the sintered abrasive particles are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Dwight D. Erickson, Anatoly Z. Rosenflanz