Patents by Inventor Frank M. Willis

Frank M. Willis 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: 7588683
    Abstract: A column for liquid chromatography includes a chamber adapted to receive packing medium. Openings in the chamber allow fluid to pass through it. Porous plugs in the chamber retain the packing medium. A piston and one porous plug are movable within the chamber to compress the packing medium. A fitting engages the piston and is adjustably movable for moving the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank M. Willis, Clyde L. Machamer
  • Patent number: 7101477
    Abstract: A column for liquid chromatography includes a chamber adapted to receive packing medium. Openings in the chamber allow fluid to pass through it. Porous plugs in the chamber retain the packing medium. A fitting has a contact surface that engages a landing area on the chamber surrounding one of the openings. Engagement of the contact surface with the landing area forms a metal to metal seal between the fitting and the chamber. A method of sealing a column for liquid chromatography is also disclosed. The method involves a chamber containing packing medium, the chamber having an opening surrounded by a landing area. The method includes providing a compression fitting having a contact surface and compressing the contact surface against the landing area to form a fluid tight seal between the compression fitting and the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank M. Willis, Clyde L. Machamer
  • Patent number: 5587116
    Abstract: A method for the preparation of optical ferrules containing cylindrical members utilizes a guide receiving the cylindrical member, a sleeve receiving a piston therethrough, and a pin extending into the sleeve. The method also includes biasing to position the piston, using fill gates to dispense polymer into a defined cavity, and employing a containment which secures the components together. Injection molded optical fiber ferrules made according to the apparatus and process exhibit superior properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Melvin H. Johnson, Frank M. Willis
  • Patent number: 5568581
    Abstract: Apparatus for the preparation of optical ferrules containing cylindrical members is disclosed. The apparatus utilizes guide means receiving the cylindrical member, a sleeve receiving a piston therethrough, and a pin extending into the sleeve. The apparatus also includes biasing means to position the piston, fill gates to dispense polymer into a defined cavity, and containment means which secure the apparatus components together. Injection molded optical fiber ferrules made according to the apparatus and process disclosed exhibit superior properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Melvin H. Johnson, Frank M. Willis
  • Patent number: 5482451
    Abstract: Apparatus for the preparation of optical ferrules containing cylindrical members is disclosed. The apparatus utilizes guide means receiving the cylindrical member, a sleeve receiving a piston therethrough, and a pin extending into the sleeve. The apparatus also includes biasing means to position the piston, fill gates to dispense polymer into a defined cavity, and containment means which secure the apparatus components together. Injection molded optical fiber ferrules made according to the apparatus and process disclosed exhibit superior properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours
    Inventors: Melvin H. Johnson, Frank M. Willis
  • Patent number: 5404417
    Abstract: A positioning apparatus for positioning a point on a cylindrical member having a small diameter, such as an optical fiber, along a predetermined reference axis regardless of the outer diameter of the fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Melvin H. Johnson, Jerald D. Lee, Frank M. Willis
  • Patent number: 5377289
    Abstract: A positioning apparatus for positioning a point on a cylindrical member having a small diameter, such as an optical fiber, along a predetermined reference axis regardless of the outer diameter of the fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Melvin H. Johnson, Jerald D. Lee, Frank M. Willis
  • Patent number: 5263105
    Abstract: A connector assembly for connecting an optical fiber cable to a socket may be used in field with the advantages of precision connection and testing found in a manufacturing facility. The optical fiber cable has a first end, and a first predetermined length of a first bare optical fiber extends from the first end. The connector assembly comprises a ferrule for holding a second optical fiber. The ferrule has a first end, a second end, a central axis extending between the first and the second end and a hole extending along the central axis. A first portion of the second optical fiber is disposed in the hole and a second portion of the second optical fiber extends from the first end of the ferrule. The connector assembly also comprises a device for splicing the second portion of the second optical fiber to the first predetermined length of the first bare optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Melvin H. Johnson, Frank M. Willis
  • Patent number: 5243673
    Abstract: An opto-electronic component includes an opto-electronic device of either the edge or the surface active type mounted on a pedestal. A fiber is positionied by a positioning device apparatus. The positioning apparatus includes a superimposed first and a second arm. Each arm may be subdivided into a first and a second finger. The arms (and fingers) are fabricated from a crystalline material. The arms (and fingers) are biased toward a closed position. An optical fiber introduced into a channel defined by the superimposed arms is initially deflected so that a point on the end face of the fiber is placed into alignment with a reference axis. Further axial movement of the fiber through the channel causes the arms to move against the bias force to hold the point on the axis, regardless of the diameter of the fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1993
    Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Melvin H. Johnson, Jerald D. Lee, Frank M. Willis
  • Patent number: 4826276
    Abstract: A fiber feedthrough assembly having a rigidizing member in the form of a quartz tube surrounding an axial length of a glass fiber defined between a shoulder formed by the jacket of the fiber and the axially inner end of a hermetic seal. The coefficients of thermal expansion of the tube and the fiber are substantially equal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1989
    Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Kathleen S. Abbott, Frank M. Willis
  • Patent number: 4647756
    Abstract: The electric heating element in an apparatus for sterilely cutting and welding together a pair of thermoplastic tubes incorporates within the heating element a fusible signal means connected in parallel electrical circuit with the resistor of the heating element for indicating previous use of the heating element. The fusible signal means is capable when intact of providing a signal to a microprocessor controlling operation of the apparatus indicative of previous nonuse of the heating element and is automatically destructed upon energization of the heating element resistor during the first use of the heating element so as to be incapable of providing such nonuse signal upon a subsequent energization. If the nonuse signal is not generated, e.g., the heating element has been previously used, the microprocessor is programmed to reject the heating element, thereby eliminating risks resulting from reusing the heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1987
    Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: Frank M. Willis
  • Patent number: 4640776
    Abstract: A plasmapheresis filtration module having stacked grooved plates interleaved with membranes, enclosed in a unitary, flexible, impermeable envelope, sealing being effected by pressing the membranes between blood flow channels and a sealing surface on a plasma side support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1987
    Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Robert P. Luoma, II, Frank M. Willis
  • Patent number: 4639317
    Abstract: A plasmapheresis filtration module having stacked grooved plates interleaved with membranes, enclosed in a unitary, flexible, impermeable envelope, sealing being effected by pressing the membranes between blood flow channels and a sealing surface on a plasma side support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1987
    Assignee: E. I. Du Pont De Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Robert P. Luoma, II, Frank M. Willis
  • Patent number: 4636312
    Abstract: A plasmapheresis filtration module having stacked grooved plates interleaved with membrane filters, enclosed in a unitary, flexible, impermeable envelope, sealing being effected by pressing the membranes between blood flow channels and a sealing surface on a plasma side support, one of the plates being an end plate having reciprocatory pulse cavities therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1987
    Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: Frank M. Willis
  • Patent number: 4633063
    Abstract: A heating element for sterilely melt-cutting and welding together a pair of thermoplastic tubes transversely of the axis of the tubes includes an outer folded metal sheet, such as copper, aluminum, silver or gold, an electric resistance heating element of stainless steel or the like disposed inside the fold of the sheet and a dielectric adhesive disposed between the inner surfaces of the sheet and the resistor to insulate the resistor from the sheet and bond the structure together. The folded edge of the sheet forms the melting edge of the heating element. Vent channels within the adhesive and along at least one unfolded edge of the metal sheet are provided to vent entrapped gas from the element during heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1986
    Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: Frank M. Willis
  • Patent number: 4616050
    Abstract: A coarse/fine particulate inert solid filler component, e.g., limestone and/or sand, is used in a hardenable resin composition adapted for use in making set products, e.g., a hardened grout for anchoring a reinforcing member in a hole. About from 5 to 50 percent by weight of the filler is a coarse filler component comprised of particles in a size range whose minimum is about 1 mm, or a size range which is from 30 to 150 percent of the thickness of the annular layer of hardened grout formed around a reinforcing member. The thus-filled resin composition is readily miscible and flowable even at total filler levels as high as about 88 percent by weight. Rock bolt grouting products containing this resin composition require less bolt spinning and afford improved anchorage strength, even when used to point anchor mechanical expansion shells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1986
    Inventors: Walter J. Simmons, Frank M. Willis
  • Patent number: 4325682
    Abstract: A progressing cavity pump having a rotor (13) which rotates and orbits within a stator (14) is provided with the stator (14) being connected at one end to a hopper (12) containing the material being dispensed by a flexible tube (26) and to a fixed joint (29) at its other end. This fixed joint (29) and a flexible joint (21) connecting the rotor (13) to a rotary drive means (20) are positioned outside the material, for easy observation; together with the flexible tube (26) such joints permit the rotor (13) to rotate and to orbit conically about the flexible joint (22) and the stator to orbit conically about the fixed joint (29), 180.degree. out of phase with the rotor.The apparatus is particular suited to handle a water gel explosive which might create a safety hazard if the explosive enters a joint without detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1982
    Assignee: E. I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: Frank M. Willis