Patents by Inventor Peter C. Collins

Peter C. Collins 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: 20230241717
    Abstract: Various embodiments relate to forming particles using undercooled metal particles in response to focused low power laser light. Particle growth can be initiated by utilizing the metastable and liquid nature of the particles, allowing for surface instability promoted by the laser light to induce liquid flow to translate to a neighboring particle. This event can cascade radially leading to accumulation of the liquid metal at the epicenter. The grown solidified particle size can be varied by using different power, exposure time, or working distance. Once the liquid has accumulated into a single region, it eventually solidifies either through homogeneous or heterogeneous nucleation to give a solid particle of larger size than the original. Such a method can be used to print patterns on a surface in four dimensions, where the fourth dimension (4D) is attained through gradient in size of the particles made. Additional systems and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: Martin Thuo, Peter C. Collins, Andrew Martin
  • Patent number: 11633807
    Abstract: Various embodiments relate to forming particles using undercooled metal particles in response to focused low power laser light. Particle growth can be initiated by utilizing the metastable and liquid nature of the particles, allowing for surface instability promoted by the laser light to induce liquid flow to translate to a neighboring particle. This event can cascade radially leading to accumulation of the liquid metal at the epicenter. The grown solidified particle size can be varied by using different power, exposure time, or working distance. Once the liquid has accumulated into a single region, it eventually solidifies either through homogeneous or heterogeneous nucleation to give a solid particle of larger size than the original. Such a method can be used to print patterns on a surface in four dimensions, where the fourth dimension (4D) is attained through gradient in size of the particles made. Additional systems and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Thuo, Peter C. Collins, Andrew Martin
  • Patent number: 11379637
    Abstract: Various embodiments relate to additive manufacturing in which the Langmuir equation can be used to predict composition in the processing. This equation can be integrated into a model with knowledge of elemental solubility and relative reactivity of relevant elements in the additive manufacturing processing. Use of thermodynamic principles can be programmed into a finite element modeling strategy integrating the Langmuir equation, coupling the thermal fields of additive manufacturing and the surrounding environments with the rules and/or equations to predict solute pickup and/or solute loss. The modeling strategy can be implemented to identify the elements in relative concentrations to be used in the additive manufacturing processing to provide for the controlled loss of certain elements to prevent absorption of unwanted elements into molten material, formed by additive manufacturing, from the atmosphere around the molten material. Additional systems and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter C. Collins, Martin Thuo, Thomas Ales
  • Publication number: 20210138588
    Abstract: Various embodiments relate to forming particles using undercooled metal particles in response to focused low power laser light. Particle growth can be initiated by utilizing the metastable and liquid nature of the particles, allowing for surface instability promoted by the laser light to induce liquid flow to translate to a neighboring particle. This event can cascade radially leading to accumulation of the liquid metal at the epicenter. The grown solidified particle size can be varied by using different power, exposure time, or working distance. Once the liquid has accumulated into a single region, it eventually solidifies either through homogeneous or heterogeneous nucleation to give a solid particle of larger size than the original. Such a method can be used to print patterns on a surface in four dimensions, where the fourth dimension (4D) is attained through gradient in size of the particles made. Additional systems and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Martin Thuo, Peter C. Collins, Andrew Martin
  • Publication number: 20200327267
    Abstract: Various embodiments relate to additive manufacturing in which the Langmuir equation can be used to predict composition in the processing. This equation can be integrated into a model with knowledge of elemental solubility and relative reactivity of relevant elements in the additive manufacturing processing. Use of thermodynamic principles can be programmed into a finite element modeling strategy integrating the Langmuir equation, coupling the thermal fields of additive manufacturing and the surrounding environments with the rules and/or equations to predict solute pickup and/or solute loss. The modeling strategy can be implemented to identify the elements in relative concentrations to be used in the additive manufacturing processing to provide for the controlled loss of certain elements to prevent absorption of unwanted elements into molten material, formed by additive manufacturing, from the atmosphere around the molten material. Additional systems and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Peter C. Collins, Martin Thuo, Thomas Ales
  • Patent number: 7438865
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods for the catalytic removal of at least one pollutant from an air stream via a catalytic precooler arranged in series with at least one augmentative catalytic device. The augmentative catalytic device may be located upstream or downstream from the catalytic precooler. The augmentative catalytic device may be integrated with the catalytic precooler, thereby eliminating the need for a separate housing and minimizing weight. Alternatively, the augmentative catalytic device may be disposed within a separate housing, thereby facilitating access for maintenance and decreasing direct maintenance costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Peter C. Collins, Felipe A. Fuentes, Michel A. Jonqueres, Jim A. Emerick
  • Patent number: 7250141
    Abstract: Systems, apparatus, and methods for the catalytic removal of at least one pollutant from an air stream via a catalytic precooler arranged in series with at least one augmentative catalytic device. The augmentative catalytic device may be located upstream or downstream from the catalytic precooler. The augmentative catalytic device may be integrated with the catalytic precooler, thereby eliminating the need for a separate housing and minimizing weight. Alternatively, the augmentative catalytic device may be disposed within a separate housing, thereby facilitating access for maintenance and decreasing direct maintenance costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter C. Collins, Felipe A. Fuentes, Michel A. Jonqueres, Jim A. Emerick
  • Patent number: 6070418
    Abstract: An environmental control system includes a single heat exchanger, a single water separator and two air cycle machines on separate spools. Cooling turbines of the air cycle machines are cascaded. Air flows through both air cycle machines during normal operation of the environmental control system. If one of the air cycle machines fails, air can be bypassed around the failed air cycle machine. Cascading allows water separation to be performed by a mid-pressure water separator located between the air cycle machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: AlliedSignal Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald E Crabtree, Peter C. Collins, Stanley C. Pollitt, Roger R. Sanger, Michel A. Jonqueres, Thomas J. Kazan