Patents by Inventor Richard Hulme

Richard Hulme 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: 8802216
    Abstract: A high transmission and low iron glass is provided for use in a solar cell. The glass substrate may be patterned on at least one surface thereof. Antimony (Sb) is used in the glass to improve stability of the solar performance of the glass upon exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation and/or sunlight. The combination of low iron content, antimony, and/or the patterning of the glass substrate results in a substrate with high visible transmission and excellent light refracting characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventors: Scott V. Thomsen, Ksenia A. Landa, Leonid Landa, Richard Hulme, Anna Broughton
  • Patent number: 8671717
    Abstract: A high transmission and low iron glass is provided for use in a photovoltaic device such as a solar cell. The glass substrate may be patterned on at least one surface thereof. In certain example embodiments, a combination of lithium oxide, antimony oxide, and salt cake is used in the glass to improve the refining conditions by lowering the melting temperature of the batch, thereby resulting in a quicker seed free time in the manufacturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Fulton, Richard Hulme, Scott V. Thomsen
  • Patent number: 8669197
    Abstract: A grey glass composition employing in its colorant portion at least iron (Fe2O3/FeO), cobalt and selenium is provided. The glass allows high visible transmission, and good IR absorption, while at the same time achieving desired grey color. In certain example embodiments, the colorant portion includes, or may consist essentially of: total iron (expressed as Fe2O3) 0.20 to 0.35% selenium 0.0002 to 0.0020% cobalt oxide 0.0025 to 0.0060% titanium oxide 0 to 1.0% glass redox: <=.27; or 0.10 to 0.25.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventors: Anna Broughton, Richard Hulme, Scott V. Thomsen
  • Patent number: 8648252
    Abstract: A high transmission low iron glass, that is highly oxidized, is provided for use in solar cells or the like. In certain example embodiments, the glass composition used for the glass is a low-iron type glass composition which is highly oxidized thereby permitting the glass to realize a combination of high visible transmission (Lta or Tvis), high ultraviolet (UV) and/or infrared (IR) transmission, and high total solar (TS) transmission. These features may be achieved without the need for antimony in certain example instances. The glass substrate used in a solar cell may be patterned in certain example embodiments of this invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventors: Scott V. Thomsen, Richard Hulme, Leonid M. Landa, Ksenia A. Landa
  • Patent number: 8298972
    Abstract: This invention relates to a high transmission low iron glass that includes boron oxide. The boron oxide, added to this low iron glass, has the effect of improving glass refining, homogeneity and quality (lower seed count) through its flux action and improves glass optical parameters of green and clear glass through the change in refractive index and surface tension. Boron oxide lends to broader and weaker absorption band of such transition element(s) as iron which additionally improves the transmittance of low iron clear glass in certain example embodiments of this invention. In certain example embodiments, the addition of boron oxide in certain quantities in advantageous in that it improves the chemical durability of the glass by decreasing the USPX (or USPXIII) value of the glass via suppression of the silica, sodium ions in the glass structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignees: Guardian Industries Corp., Phoenicia America-Israel (Flat Glass) Ltd.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Fulton, Abraham W. Michaelis, Mario Resch, David Bird, Richard Hulme, Scott V. Thomsen
  • Publication number: 20110275506
    Abstract: This invention relates to a high transmission low iron glass that includes boron oxide. The boron oxide, added to this low iron glass, has the effect of improving glass refining, homogeneity and quality (lower seed count) through its flux action and improves glass optical parameters of green and clear glass through the change in refractive index and surface tension. Boron oxide lends to broader and weaker absorption band of such transition element(s) as iron which additionally improves the transmittance of low iron clear glass in certain example embodiments of this invention. In certain example embodiments, the addition of boron oxide in certain quantities in advantageous in that it improves the chemical durability of the glass by decreasing the USPX (or USPXIII) value of the glass via suppression of the silica, sodium ions in the glass structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicants: Phoenicia America-Israel (Flat Glass) Ltd., Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Fulton, Abraham W. Michaelis, Mario Resch, David Bird, Richard Hulme, Scott V. Thomsen
  • Publication number: 20110118101
    Abstract: A grey glass composition employing in its colorant portion at least iron (Fe2O3/FeO), cobalt and selenium is provided. The glass allows high visible transmission, and good IR absorption, while at the same time achieving desired grey color. In certain example embodiments, the colorant portion includes, or may consist essentially of: total iron (expressed as Fe2O3) 0.20 to 0.35% selenium 0.0002 to 0.0020% cobalt oxide 0.0025 to 0.0060% titanium oxide 0 to 1.0% glass redox: <=.27; or 0.10 to 0.25.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventors: Anna Broughton, Richard Hulme, Scott V. Thomsen
  • Patent number: 7932198
    Abstract: A grey glass composition employing in its colorant portion at least iron (Fe2O3/FeO), cobalt and selenium is provided. The glass allows high visible transmission, and good IR absorption, while at the same time achieving desired grey color. In certain example embodiments, the colorant portion includes, or may consist essentially of: total iron (expressed as Fe2O3) 0.20 to 0.40% selenium 2-20 ppm cobalt oxide 0.0025 to 0.0060% titanium oxide ??0 to 1.0% glass redox: <=0.30.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventors: Richard Hulme, Scott V. Thomsen
  • Patent number: 7893350
    Abstract: Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to a high transmission low iron glass, which is highly oxidized and made using the float process, for use in photovoltaic devices such as solar cells or the like. In certain example embodiments, the glass composition used for the glass is made via the float process using an extremely high and positive batch redox in order to reduce % FeO to a low level and permit the glass to consistently realize a combination of high visible transmission (Lta or Tvis), high infrared (IR) transmission, and high total solar (TS) transmission. The glass substrate may be patterned or not patterned in different example embodiments of this invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventors: Scott V. Thomsen, Richard Hulme, Leonid M. Landa, Ksenia A. Landa
  • Patent number: 7863208
    Abstract: A grey glass composition employing in its colorant portion at least iron (Fe2O3/FeO), cobalt and selenium is provided. The glass allows high visible transmission, and good IR absorption, while at the same time achieving desired grey color. In certain example embodiments, the colorant portion includes, or may consist essentially of: total iron (expressed as Fe2O3) 0.20 to 0.35% selenium 0.0002 to 0.0020% cobalt oxide 0.0025 to 0.0060% titanium oxide ??0 to 1.0% glass redox: <=.27; or 0.10 to 0.25.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventors: Anna Broughton, Richard Hulme, Scott V. Thomsen
  • Patent number: 7858545
    Abstract: A high transmittance fairly clear/neutral colored glass composition is provided. An oxidizing agent(s) such as cerium oxide (e.g., CeO2) or the like is added to the glass batch in order to realize very oxidized conditions (i.e., to significantly lower the redox of the resulting glass). As a result of the oxidizing agent(s) used in the batch, the iron is oxidized to a very low FeO (ferrous state) content. For example, this may result in a glass having a glass redox value of no greater than 0.12 (more preferably <=0.10; even more preferably <=0.08; and most preferably <=0.05) and a % FeO (i.e., ferrous content) of from 0.0001 to 0.05%. In certain example embodiments, in order to compensate for yellow or yellow-green coloration a small amount of cobalt (Co) may be provided in the glass to enable it to realize a more neutral color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventors: Ksenia A. Landa, Leonid Landa, Richard Hulme, Scott V. Thomsen
  • Publication number: 20100255980
    Abstract: This invention relates to a high transmission low iron glass that includes boron oxide. The boron oxide, added to this low iron glass, has the effect of improving glass refining, homogeneity and quality (lower seed count) through its flux action and improves glass optical parameters of green and clear glass through the change in refractive index and surface tension. Boron oxide lends to broader and weaker absorption band of such transition element(s) as iron which additionally improves the transmittance of low iron clear glass in certain example embodiments of this invention. In certain example embodiments, the addition of boron oxide in certain quantities in advantageous in that it improves the chemical durability of the glass by decreasing the USPX (or USPXIII) value of the glass via suppression of the silica, sodium ions in the glass structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicants: Guardian Industires Corp., Phoenicia America-Israel (Flat Glass) Ltd.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Fulton, Abraham W. Michaelis, Mario Resch, David Bird, Richard Hulme, Scott V. Thomsen
  • Patent number: 7772144
    Abstract: A soda-lime-silica based glass composition for manufacturing on a float line that has a faster refining rate due to the introduction of alkali earth oxides such as BaO, ZnO and/or SrO in the amount of from about 1-4% in total. These oxides replace part or all of the MgO in the base glass composition thereby decreasing the overall MgO content in the glass composition to about 2% or less. The glass can realize a lower viscosity at high temperatures so that refining of the melt may occur faster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventors: Leonid M. Landa, Ksenia A. Landa, Richard Hulme, Scott V. Thomsen, Anthony V. Longobardo
  • Publication number: 20100154477
    Abstract: A high transmission and low iron glass is provided for use in a solar cell. The glass substrate may be patterned on at least one surface thereof. Antimony (Sb) is used in the glass to improve stability of the solar performance of the glass upon exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation and/or sunlight. The combination of low iron content, antimony, and/or the patterning of the glass substrate results in a substrate with high visible transmission and excellent light refracting characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: Gurdian Industries Corp.
    Inventors: Scott V. Thomsen, Ksenia A. Landa, Richard Hulme, Leonid Landa, Anna Broughton
  • Publication number: 20100152014
    Abstract: A high transmittance fairly clear/neutral colored glass composition is provided. An oxidizing agent(s) such as cerium oxide (e.g., CeO2) or the like is added to the glass batch in order to realize very oxidized conditions (i.e., to significantly lower the redox of the resulting glass). As a result of the oxidizing agent(s) used in the batch, the iron is oxidized to a very low FeO (ferrous state) content. For example, this may result in a glass having a glass redox value of no greater than 0.12 (more preferably <=0.10; even more preferably <=0.08; and most preferably <=0.05) and a % FeO (i.e., ferrous content) of from 0.0001 to 0.05%. In certain example embodiments, in order to compensate for yellow or yellow-green coloration a small amount of cobalt (Co) may be provided in the glass to enable it to realize a more neutral color.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventors: Ksenia A. Landa, Leonid Landa, Richard Hulme, Scott V. Thomsen
  • Publication number: 20100122728
    Abstract: A high transmission low iron glass includes antimony, has reduced total alkali content, and increased silica content, and is suitable for use in photovoltaic devices (e.g., solar cells) or the like. A method of making the glass is also provided. In certain example embodiments, the glass composition may be made on a pattern line with a highly positive batch redox.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Inventors: Kevin R. Fulton, Richard Hulme, Scott V. Thomsen
  • Patent number: 7700870
    Abstract: A high transmission and low iron glass is provided for use in a solar cell. The glass substrate may be patterned on at least one surface thereof. Antimony (Sb) is used in the glass to improve stability of the solar performance of the glass upon exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation and/or sunlight. The combination of low iron content, antimony, and/or the patterning of the glass substrate results in a substrate with high visible transmission and excellent light refracting characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventors: Scott V. Thomsen, Ksenia A. Landa, Richard Hulme, Anthony V. Longobardo, Leonid Landa, Anna Broughton
  • Patent number: 7700869
    Abstract: A patterned glass substrate is provided for use in a solar cell. The glass substrate is both patterned on at least one surface thereof and has a low iron content. The combination of low iron content, optional oxidizing agent, and the patterning of the glass substrate results in a substrate with high visible transmission and excellent light refracting characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventors: Scott V. Thomsen, Ksenia A. Landa, Leonid Landa, Richard Hulme
  • Patent number: 7683000
    Abstract: A high transmittance fairly clear/neutral colored glass composition is provided. An oxidizing agent(s) such as cerium oxide (e.g., CeO2) or the like is added to the glass batch in order to realize very oxidized conditions (i.e., to significantly lower the redox of the resulting glass). As a result of the oxidizing agent(s) used in the batch, the iron is oxidized to a very low FeO (ferrous state) content. For example, this may result in a glass having a glass redox value of no greater than 0.12 (more preferably <=0.10; even more preferably <=0.08; and most preferably <=0.05) and a % FeO (i.e., ferrous content) of from 0.0001 to 0.05%. In certain example embodiments, in order to compensate for yellow or yellow-green coloration a small amount of cobalt (Co) may be provided in the glass to enable it to realize a more neutral color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventors: Ksenia A. Landa, Leonid Landa, Richard Hulme, Scott V. Thomsen
  • Patent number: 7601660
    Abstract: Glass is provided so as to have high visible transmission and/or fairly clear or neutral color. In certain example embodiments, the glass may include a base glass (e.g., soda lime silica base glass) and, in addition, by weight percentage, from 0.01 to 0.30% total iron (expressed as Fe2O3). The glass may be made using a batch redox of at least +7.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventors: Don Tullman, Scott V. Thomsen, Richard Hulme, Leonid Landa, Ksenia A. Landa