Patents by Inventor Kenneth Donald Hobbs

Kenneth Donald Hobbs 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: 9908087
    Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane fluid transport device is disclosed wherein the fibers are comprised of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and the potting materials are comprised of fluorocopolymer and or fluoroterpolymer based materials. The potting of the device utilizes a compressed chemically resistant fluorocopolymer and or fluoroterpolymer film, allows for ease of manufacture without destruction of the PTFE hollow fibers, with high packing densities, and without the processing complexity of pre-melting, extruding, or chemical crosslinking of any polymeric adhesives. Furthermore, the PTFE hollow fibers can be treated with a fluoropolymeric solvent solution before the chemically resistant film is applied to enhance the adhesion of the PTFE fiber to the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Markel Corporation
    Inventors: Robert E. Jerman, Cornelius Brown, Jr., Kenneth Donald Hobbs, Carlos Ruano, Charles Edward Wolanski
  • Patent number: 9908088
    Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane fluid transport device is disclosed wherein the fibers are comprised of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and the potting materials are comprised of fluorocopolymer and or fluoroterpolymer based materials. The potting of the device utilizes a compressed chemically resistant fluorocopolymer and or fluoroterpolymer film, allows for ease of manufacture without destruction of the PTFE hollow fibers, with high packing densities, and without the processing complexity of pre-melting, extruding, or chemical crosslinking of any polymeric adhesives. Furthermore, the PTFE hollow fibers can be treated with a fluoropolymeric solvent solution before the chemically resistant film is applied to enhance the adhesion of the PTFE fiber to the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Markel Corporation
    Inventors: Robert E. Jerman, Cornelius Brown, Jr., Kenneth Donald Hobbs, Carlos Ruano, Charles Edward Wolanski
  • Patent number: 9248411
    Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane fluid transport device's method of manufacture is disclosed wherein the fibers are comprised of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and the potting materials are comprised of fluoropolymer based materials. The potting method described herein, utilizes a compressed chemically resistant fluorocopolymer and or fluoroterpolymer film, allows for ease of manufacture without destruction of the PTFE hollow fibers, with high packing densities, and without the processing complexity of pre-melting, extruding, or chemical crosslinking of any polymeric adhesives. Furthermore, the PTFE hollow fibers can be treated with a fluoropolymeric solvent solution before the chemically resistant film is applied to enhance the adhesion of the PTFE fiber to the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Markel Corporation
    Inventors: Robert E. Jerman, Cornelius Brown, Jr., Kenneth Donald Hobbs, Carlos Ruano, Charles Edward Wolanski
  • Patent number: 9248412
    Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane fluid transport device's method of manufacture is disclosed wherein the fibers are comprised of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and the potting materials are comprised of fluoropolymer based materials. The potting method described herein, utilizes a compressed chemically resistant fluorocopolymer and or fluoroterpolymer film, allows for ease of manufacture without destruction of the PTFE hollow fibers, with high packing densities, and without the processing complexity of pre-melting, extruding, or chemical crosslinking of any polymeric adhesives. Furthermore, the PTFE hollow fibers can be treated with a fluoropolymeric solvent solution before the chemically resistant film is applied to enhance the adhesion of the PTFE fiber to the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Markel Corporation
    Inventors: Robert E. Jerman, Cornelius Brown, Jr., Kenneth Donald Hobbs, Carlos Ruano, Charles Edward Wolanski
  • Patent number: 9061251
    Abstract: A tubular membrane module and its method of manufacture are disclosed wherein tubular membranes form an interference self-sealing fit with hard tube sheets with the aid of a hard hollow mandrel inserted at the end of the tubular membranes. The tubular membranes are comprised of porous, compressible PTFE and/or fluorocopolymers. The self-sealing method described herein requires no heat treatment, allows for ease of manufacture without destruction of the tubular membranes and without the processing complexity of utilizing any additional potting agent, extrusion, or chemical cross-linking of any polymeric adhesives. The self sealing PTFE tubular membranes have superb chemical resistance and temperature resistance, and through the benefits of this invention, offer higher pullout resistance than typically observed with potting materials such as polyurethane and epoxy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Markel Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth Donald Hobbs, Robert Edward Jerman, Charles Edward Wolanski
  • Publication number: 20150041389
    Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane fluid transport device is disclosed wherein the fibers are comprised of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and the potting materials are comprised of fluorocopolymer and or fluoroterpolymer based materials. The potting of the device utilizes a compressed chemically resistant fluorocopolymer and or fluoroterpolymer film, allows for ease of manufacture without destruction of the PTFE hollow fibers, with high packing densities, and without the processing complexity of pre-melting, extruding, or chemical crosslinking of any polymeric adhesives. Furthermore, the PTFE hollow fibers can be treated with a fluoropolymeric solvent solution before the chemically resistant film is applied to enhance the adhesion of the PTFE fiber to the film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicant: MARKEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert E. Jerman, Cornelius Brown, JR., Kenneth Donald Hobbs, Carlos Ruano, Charles Edward Wolanski
  • Publication number: 20140042076
    Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane fluid transport device is disclosed wherein the fibers are comprised of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and the potting materials are comprised of fluorocopolymer and or fluoroterpolymer based materials. The potting of the device utilizes a compressed chemically resistant fluorocopolymer and or fluoroterpolymer film, allows for ease of manufacture without destruction of the PTFE hollow fibers, with high packing densities, and without the processing complexity of pre-melting, extruding, or chemical crosslinking of any polymeric adhesives. Furthermore, the PTFE hollow fibers can be treated with a fluoropolymeric solvent solution before the chemically resistant film is applied to enhance the adhesion of the PTFE fiber to the film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: MARKEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert E. Jerman, Cornelius Brown, Jr., Kenneth Donald Hobbs, Carlos Ruano, Charles Edward Wolanski
  • Publication number: 20140042077
    Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane fluid transport device is disclosed wherein the fibers are comprised of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and the potting materials are comprised of fluorocopolymer and or fluoroterpolymer based materials. The potting of the device utilizes a compressed chemically resistant fluorocopolymer and or fluoroterpolymer film, allows for ease of manufacture without destruction of the PTFE hollow fibers, with high packing densities, and without the processing complexity of pre-melting, extruding, or chemical crosslinking of any polymeric adhesives. Furthermore, the PTFE hollow fibers can be treated with a fluoropolymeric solvent solution before the chemically resistant film is applied to enhance the adhesion of the PTFE fiber to the film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: MARKEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert E. Jerman, Cornelius Brown, Jr., Kenneth Donald Hobbs, Carlos Ruano, Charles Edward Wolanski
  • Publication number: 20140041788
    Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane fluid transport device's method of manufacture is disclosed wherein the fibers are comprised of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and the potting materials are comprised of fluoropolymer based materials. The potting method described herein, utilizes a compressed chemically resistant fluorocopolymer and or fluoroterpolymer film, allows for ease of manufacture without destruction of the PTFE hollow fibers, with high packing densities, and without the processing complexity of pre-melting, extruding, or chemical crosslinking of any polymeric adhesives. Furthermore, the PTFE hollow fibers can be treated with a fluoropolymeric solvent solution before the chemically resistant film is applied to enhance the adhesion of the PTFE fiber to the film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: MARKEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert E. Jerman, Cornelius Brown, JR., Kenneth Donald Hobbs, Carlos Ruano, Charles Edward Wolanski
  • Publication number: 20140041789
    Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane fluid transport device's method of manufacture is disclosed wherein the fibers are comprised of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and the potting materials are comprised of fluoropolymer based materials. The potting method described herein, utilizes a compressed chemically resistant fluorocopolymer and or fluoroterpolymer film, allows for ease of manufacture without destruction of the PTFE hollow fibers, with high packing densities, and without the processing complexity of pre-melting, extruding, or chemical crosslinking of any polymeric adhesives. Furthermore, the PTFE hollow fibers can be treated with a fluoropolymeric solvent solution before the chemically resistant film is applied to enhance the adhesion of the PTFE fiber to the film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: MARKEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert E. Jerman, Cornelius Brown, JR., Kenneth Donald Hobbs, Carlos Ruano, Charles Edward Wolanski
  • Patent number: 8540081
    Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane fluid transport device and its method of manufacture are disclosed wherein the fibers are comprised of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and the potting materials are comprised of fluorocopolymer and or fluoroterpolymer based materials. The potting method described herein, utilizes a compressed chemically resistant fluorocopolymer and or fluoroterpolymer film, allows for ease of manufacture without destruction of the PTFE hollow fibers, with high packing densities, and without the processing complexity of pre-melting, extruding, or chemical crosslinking of any polymeric adhesives. Furthermore, the PTFE hollow fibers can be treated with a fluoropolymeric solvent solution before the chemically resistant film is applied to enhance the adhesion of the PTFE fiber to the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Markel Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Edward Jerman, Cornelius Brown, Jr., Kenneth Donald Hobbs, Carlos Ruano, Charles Edward Wolanski
  • Publication number: 20130075321
    Abstract: A tubular membrane module and its method of manufacture are disclosed wherein tubular membranes form an interference self-sealing fit with hard tube sheets with the aid of a hard hollow mandrel inserted at the end of the tubular membranes. The tubular membranes are comprised of porous, compressible PTFE and/or fluorocopolymers. The self-sealing method described herein requires no heat treatment, allows for ease of manufacture without destruction of the tubular membranes and without the processing complexity of utilizing any additional potting agent, extrusion, or chemical cross-linking of any polymeric adhesives. The self sealing PTFE tubular membranes have superb chemical resistance and temperature resistance, and through the benefits of this invention, offer higher pull-out resistance than typically observed with potting materials such as polyurethane and epoxy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Inventors: Kenneth Donald Hobbs, Robert Edward Jerman, Charles Edward Wolanski
  • Publication number: 20120234745
    Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane fluid transport device and its method of manufacture are disclosed wherein the fibers are comprised of Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and the potting materials are comprised of fluorocopolymer and or fluoroterpolymer based materials. The potting method described herein, utilizes a compressed chemically resistant fluorocopolymer and or fluoroterpolymer film, allows for ease of manufacture without destruction of the PTFE hollow fibers, with high packing densities, and without the processing complexity of pre-melting, extruding, or chemical crosslinking of any polymeric adhesives. Furthermore, the PTFE hollow fibers can be treated with a fluoropolymeric solvent solution before the chemically resistant film is applied to enhance the adhesion of the PTFE fiber to the film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventors: Robert Edward Jerman, Cornelius Brown, JR., Kenneth Donald Hobbs, Carlos Ruano, Charles Edward Wolanski