Patents by Inventor Gregory K. Draughon

Gregory K. Draughon 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).

  • Multilayer electroactive polymer composite material
    Patent number: 7935414
    Abstract: An electroactive material comprises multiple layers of electroactive composite with each layer having unique dielectric, electrical and mechanical properties that define an electromechanical operation thereof when affected by an external stimulus. For example, each layer can be (i) a 2-phase composite made from a polymer with polarizable moieties and an effective amount of carbon nanotubes incorporated in the polymer for a predetermined electomechanical operation, or (ii) a 3-phase composite having the elements of the 2-phase composite and further including a third component of micro-sized to nano-sized particles of an electroactive ceramic incorporated in the polymer matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Zoubeida Ounaies, Cheol Park, Joycelyn S. Harrison, Nancy M. Holloway, Gregory K. Draughon
  • Multilayer Electroactive Polymer Composite Material
    Publication number: 20100068485
    Abstract: An electroactive material comprises multiple layers of electroactive composite with each layer having unique dielectric, electrical and mechanical properties that define an electromechanical operation thereof when affected by an external stimulus. For example, each layer can be (i) a 2-phase composite made from a polymer with polarizable moieties and an effective amount of carbon nanotubes incorporated in the polymer for a predetermined electomechanical operation, or (ii) a 3-phase composite having the elements of the 2-phase composite and further including a third component of micro-sized to nano-sized particles of an electroactive ceramic incorporated in the polymer matrix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: USA as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics Space Administration
    Inventors: Zoubeida OUNAIES, Cheol PARK, Joycelyn S. HARRISON, Nancy M. HOLLOWAY, Gregory K. DRAUGHON
  • Method of making an electroactive sensing/actuating material for carbon nanotube polymer composite
    Patent number: 7527751
    Abstract: An electroactive sensing or actuating material comprises a composite made from a polymer with polarizable moieties and an effective amount of carbon nanotubes incorporated in the polymer for a predetermined electromechanical operation of the composite when such composite is affected by an external stimulus. In another embodiment, the composite comprises a third component of micro-sized to nano-sized particles of an electroactive ceramic that is also incorporated in the polymer matrix. The method for making the three-phase composite comprises either incorporating the carbon nanotubes in the polymer matrix before incorporation of the particles of ceramic or mixing the carbon nanotubes and particles of ceramic together in a solution before incorporation in the polymer matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Zoubeida Ounaies, Cheol Park, Joycelyn S. Harrison, Nancy M. Holloway, Gregory K. Draughon
  • Multilayer electroactive polymer composite material comprising carbon nanotubes
    Patent number: 7507472
    Abstract: An electroactive material comprises multiple layers of electroactive composite with each layer having unique dielectric, electrical and mechanical properties that define an electromechanical operation thereof when affected by an external stimulus. For example, each layer can be (i) a 2-phase composite made from a polymer with polarizable moieties and an effective amount of carbon nanotubes incorporated in the polymer for a predetermined electomechanical operation, or (ii) a 3-phase composite having the elements of the 2-phase composite and further including a third component of micro-sized to nano-sized particles of an electroactive ceramic incorporated in the polymer matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administator of National Aeronatics and Space Adminstration
    Inventors: Zoubeida Ounaies, Cheol Park, Joycelyn S. Harrison, Nancy M. Holloway, Gregory K. Draughon
  • Sensing/Actuating Materials Made From Carbon Nanotube Polymer Composites and Methods for Making Same
    Publication number: 20080287589
    Abstract: An electroactive sensing or actuating material comprises a composite made from a polymer with polarizable moieties and an effective amount of carbon nanotubes incorporated in the polymer for a predetermined electromechanical operation of the composite when such composite is affected by an external stimulus. In another embodiment, the composite comprises a third component of micro-sized to nano-sized particles of an electroactive ceramic that is also incorporated in the polymer matrix. The method for making the three-phase composite comprises either incorporating the carbon nanotubes in the polymer matrix before incorporation of the particles of ceramic or mixing the carbon nanotubes and particles of ceramic together in a solution before incorporation in the polymer matrix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Applicants: Space Administration
    Inventors: Zoubeida Ounaies, Cheol Park, Joycelyn S. Harrison, Nancy M. Holloway, Gregory K. Draughon
  • Sensing/actuating materials made from carbon nanotube polymer composites and methods for making same
    Patent number: 7402264
    Abstract: An electroactive sensing or actuating material comprises a composite made from a polymer with polarizable moieties and an effective amount of carbon nanotubes incorporated in the polymer for a predetermined electomechanical operation of the composite when such composite is affected by an external stimulus. In another embodiment, the composite comprises a third component of micro-sized to nano-sized particles of an electroactive ceramic that is also incorporated in the polymer matrix. The method for making the three-phase composite comprises either incorporating the carbon nanotubes in the polymer matrix before incorporation of the particles of ceramic or mixing the carbon nanotubes and particles of ceramic together in a solution before incorporation in the polymer matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Zoubeida Ounaies, Cheol Park, Joycelyn S. Harrison, Nancy M. Holloway, Gregory K. Draughon