Patents by Inventor Kirk D. Dolan

Kirk D. Dolan 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).

  • Testing system for estimating thermal properties of a material
    Patent number: 9568443
    Abstract: A testing system for use in measuring thermal properties of material is described herein. The testing system includes a testing apparatus and monitoring system coupled to the testing apparatus. The testing apparatus includes a housing assembly that is configured to receive a material. A heating assembly is coupled to the housing assembly to supply a heat to at least a portion of the material to increase the temperature of the material. A sensing assembly is coupled to the housing assembly and is configured to sense a temperature of the material. The monitoring system comprises a controller having a processor comprising computer-readable instructions for operating the heating assembly to apply a heat to the material volume, receiving signals from the sensing assembly indicative of a temperature of the material, and estimating at least one thermal property of the material utilizing the sensed temperature of the material volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Dharmendra K. Mishra, Kirk D. Dolan, James V. Beck
  • TESTING SYSTEM FOR ESTIMATING THERMAL PROPERTIES OF A MATERIAL
    Publication number: 20140107965
    Abstract: A testing system for use in measuring thermal properties of material is described herein. The testing system includes a testing apparatus and monitoring system coupled to the testing apparatus. The testing apparatus includes a housing assembly that is configured to receive a material. A heating assembly is coupled to the housing assembly to supply a heat to at least a portion of the material to increase the temperature of the material. A sensing assembly is coupled to the housing assembly and is configured to sense a temperature of the material. The monitoring system comprises a controller having a processor comprising computer-readable instructions for operating the heating assembly to apply a heat to the material volume, receiving signals from the sensing assembly indicative of a temperature of the material, and estimating at least one thermal property of the material utilizing the sensed temperature of the material volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Inventors: Dharmendra K. Mishra, Kirk D. Dolan, James V. Beck