Patents by Inventor Paul D. Prichard

Paul D. Prichard 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: 20080175678
    Abstract: A metal cutting system with a tool holder, a shim, an insert with a top depression, a top piece and a clamp. A rake face cooling channel for fluid delivery is formed between the top piece and the depression in the insert. A primary discharge slot at the end of the rake face cooling channel delivers fluid from below the cutting edge of the insert. A second cooling channel for delivery of fluid to the flank face is formed between the insert and the shim or is formed between the shim and the tool holder with a portion of the cooling channel passing through the shim.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Inventors: Paul D. Prichard, Linn R. Andras
  • Publication number: 20080175677
    Abstract: A cutting insert assembly for use in chipforming and material removal wherein the cutting insert assembly is received in a pocket of a cutter body wherein coolant can flow out of a pocket opening contained in the pocket. The cutting insert assembly includes a cutting insert body that presents at least two discrete cutting locations. The cutting insert body contains a coolant entry passage aligned with the pocket opening for coolant to flow through the coolant entry passage. The cutting insert body has a rake surface that contains at least two of the discrete depressions wherein each one of the discrete depressions corresponds to one of the cutting locations. Each one of the discrete depressions extends toward its corresponding cutting location. The assembly includes a diverter that is positioned adjacent to the cutting insert body wherein the diverter has a receiving opening aligned with the coolant entry passage to receive coolant through the coolant entry passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Inventors: Paul D. Prichard, Linn R. Andras
  • Publication number: 20080175676
    Abstract: A cutting insert for use in chipforming and material removal from a workpiece wherein coolant is supplied to the cutting insert from a coolant source. The cutting insert includes at least one discrete cutting location and at least one distinct internal channel that corresponds to the cutting location. The internal channel has an inlet to receive coolant and an outlet to exit coolant. The outlet is proximate to the cutting location, and the inlet is radial inward of the outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Inventors: Paul D. Prichard, Linn R. Andras
  • Publication number: 20040218987
    Abstract: A milling cutter comprises a cutter body having at least two operational annular rings. An outer ring is provided for rough milling and includes a plurality of cutting inserts spaced about the periphery of the cutter body. Positioned radially inward of the outer ring is at least one inner finish ring. The finish ring comprises a coating of abrasive material. As a result, a workpiece can be both rough and finish milled by a single milling cutter with the rough cutting inserts and the abrasive material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Publication date: November 4, 2004
    Inventors: Glenn W. Sheffler, Gregory A. Hyatt, Paul D. Prichard, Linn R. Andras
  • Patent number: 6669745
    Abstract: The invention provides abrasive articles with optimally oriented abrasive particles and a method of making the same. The method involves contacting a substrate with the contact and mating surfaces of tools to provide an embossed substrate with perforated depressions, distributing abrasive particles within the depressions of the substrate, optimally orienting each abrasive particle in the depression containing the abrasive particle, creating a differential pressure between the top surface and the back surface of the embossed, perforated sheet wherein a lower pressure is applied to the back surface to hold the oriented abrasive particles within its depression while removing at least a major portion of abrasive particles not within the depressions from the top surface of the sheet and permanently bonding the abrasive particles in the depressions after they are optimally oriented to provide the abrasive product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Paul D. Prichard, Kyung H. Moh, David C. Koskenmaki
  • Publication number: 20030009949
    Abstract: The invention provides abrasive articles with optimally oriented abrasive particles and a method of making the same. The method involves contacting a substrate with the contact and mating surfaces of tools to provide an embossed substrate with perforated depressions, distributing abrasive particles within the depressions of the substrate, optimally orienting each abrasive particle in the depression containing the abrasive particle, creating a differential pressure between the top surface and the back surface of the embossed, perforated sheet wherein a lower pressure is applied to the back surface to hold the oriented abrasive particles within its depression while removing at least a major portion of abrasive particles not within the depressions from the top surface of the sheet and permanently bonding the abrasive particles in the depressions after they are optimally oriented to provide the abrasive product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Paul D. Prichard, Kyung H. Moh, David C. Koskenmaki
  • Patent number: 5939151
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing AlN powder employing a vacuum chamber with a nozzle thereon having a hollow center crucible of graphite with a small feed hole in the bottom thereof. A device is provided for heating and melting aluminum in the crucible. A plasma gun connected to a source of argon and nitrogen is ignited below said feed hole, and melted aluminum moves into the plume of said plasma gun. The melted aluminum is atomized in the plume, and the droplets of aluminum are vaporized and react to the nitrogen in the plume, to create AlN which is collected in a collecting chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul D. Prichard, Matthew F. Besser, Daniel J. Sordelet
  • Patent number: 5309976
    Abstract: A method of making a casting wherein a molten alloy is introduced into a mold cavity at an initial mold fill rate to partially fill the mold cavity while the mold cavity resides in a casting chamber. A solidification front is propagated through the molten alloy to provide a solidification rate. The remaining molten alloy is introduced into the mold at a second mold fill rate less than the first mold fill rate as the front propagates through the molten alloy. The second fill rate is controlled to correspond or be matched generally to the solidification rate of the molten alloy in the mold cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: Howmet Corporation
    Inventors: Paul D. Prichard, Paul R. Aimone