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).

  • Publication number: 20090223252
    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: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2008
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventors: Kevin R. Fulton, Richard Hulme, Scott V. Thomsen
  • Publication number: 20090217978
    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: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2009
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventors: Scott V. Thomsen, Richard Hulme, Leonid M. Landa, Ksenia A. Landa
  • Patent number: 7562538
    Abstract: A technique of manufacturing glass having fairly clear color and/or high visible transmission is provided. In certain example embodiments of this invention, it has surprisingly been found that by using carbon-containing compound(s) including CxHyOz.mH2O, excellent melting and refining can be achieved in the manufacture of glass, and not as much ferrous iron is formed compared to the use of elemental carbon as a refining agent. Such compound(s) are especially advantageous when highly transparent clear glass is desired, in that less ferrous iron is formed and thus transmittance and coloration can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventors: Ksenia A. Landa, Leonid Landa, Richard Hulme
  • Patent number: 7560403
    Abstract: Glass is provided so as to have high visible transmission and/or fairly clear or neutral color. In certain example embodiments, the glass includes a low amount of iron coupled with erbium (Er, including an oxide thereof) designed to provide a neutral color and high transmittance. In certain example embodiments, the amount of SO3 in the glass composition is increased in order to provide increased visible transmission, without sacrificing neutral color. The glass may optionally include a small amount of cobalt (Co, including an oxide thereof) in certain example instances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventors: Ksenia A Landa, Leonid M. Landa, Scott V. Thomsen, Richard Hulme
  • Patent number: 7560402
    Abstract: Glass is provided so as to have high visible transmission and/or fairly clear or neutral color. In certain example embodiments, the clear glass includes a low amount of iron coupled with zinc oxide and/or erbium oxide in amounts designed to provide a neutral color. While the erbium oxide is used to provide for neutral color, the zinc oxide binds sulfur into whitish-colored zinc sulfide thereby reducing the amount of sulfur that binds/bonds with iron in the glass to form sulfides of iron which is/are brownish in color. Thus, the use of the zinc oxide helps make the glass more neutral in color. In certain example embodiments, the use of the erbium oxide brings the a* color value of the resulting glass closer to zero, whereas the use of the zinc oxide brings the b* value of the resulting glass closer to zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventors: Scott V. Thomsen, Leonid M. Landa, legal representative, Richard Hulme, Ksenia A. Landa
  • Patent number: 7557053
    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: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventors: Scott V. Thomsen, Richard Hulme, Leonid M. Landa, Ksenia A. Landa
  • Publication number: 20090124480
    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: December 17, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: Guardian Industries Corp.,
    Inventors: Ksenia A. Landa, Leonid Landa, Richard Hulme, Scott V. Thomsen
  • Publication number: 20090062103
    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: September 4, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Applicant: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventors: Anna Broughton, Richard Hulme, Scott V. Thomsen
  • Publication number: 20090062104
    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: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2007
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventors: Richard Hulme, Scott V. Thomsen
  • Publication number: 20090025426
    Abstract: This invention relates to grey glass that is capable of achieving high light transmittance in the visible range in combination with good solar properties (e.g., reduced IR, UV and/or TS transmission), and/or a method of making the same. In certain example embodiments, the glass is treated with UV (ultraviolet) radiation in order to increase % FeO and/or CeO2 content, thereby increasing the glass redox and improving solar performance of the glass. Such glass compositions are useful, for example and without limitation, in automotive windows (e.g., windshields, sidelites, backlites and sunroofs) and/or in architectural/residential window applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventors: Ksenia A. Landa, Leonid M. Landa, Scott V. Thomsen, Richard Hulme
  • Patent number: 7482294
    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: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventors: Ksenia A. Landa, Leonid Landa, Richard Hulme, Scott V. Thomsen
  • Patent number: 7482295
    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: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventors: Ksenia A. Landa, Leonid Landa, Richard Hulme, Scott V. Thomsen
  • Publication number: 20080096754
    Abstract: In certain example embodiments of this invention, an ultraviolet (UV) transmissive soda-lime-silica glass is provided. In certain example embodiments of this invention, the UV transmissive soda-lime-silica glass may be made via the float process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventors: Scott V. Thomsen, Ksenia A. Landa, Leonid M. Landa, Richard Hulme
  • Publication number: 20080090718
    Abstract: Glass is provided so as to have high visible transmission and/or fairly clear or neutral color. In certain example embodiments, the glass includes a low amount of iron coupled with erbium (Er, including an oxide thereof) designed to provide a neutral color and high transmittance. In certain example embodiments, the amount of SO3 in the glass composition is increased in order to provide increased visible transmission, without sacrificing neutral color. The glass may optionally include a small amount of cobalt (Co, including an oxide thereof) in certain example instances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Inventors: Ksenia A. Landa, Leonid M. Landa, Scott V. Thomsen, Richard Hulme
  • Publication number: 20080085827
    Abstract: Glass is provided so as to have high visible transmission and/or fairly clear or neutral color. In certain example embodiments, the clear glass includes a low amount of iron coupled with zinc oxide and/or erbium oxide in amounts designed to provide a neutral color. While the erbium oxide is used to provide for neutral color, the zinc oxide binds sulfur into whitish-colored zinc sulfide thereby reducing the amount of sulfur that binds/bonds with iron in the glass to form sulfides of iron which is/are brownish in color. Thus, the use of the zinc oxide helps make the glass more neutral in color. In certain example embodiments, the use of the erbium oxide brings the a* color value of the resulting glass closer to zero, whereas the use of the zinc oxide brings the b* value of the resulting glass closer to zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Publication date: April 10, 2008
    Inventors: Scott V. Thomsen, Ksenia A. Landa, Richard Hulme, Leonid M. Landa, Leonid M. Landa
  • Patent number: 7325417
    Abstract: A glass having a visible transmission of no greater than 28% and low IR transmission, and employing a colorant portion: total iron (expressed as Fe2O3): 0.7 to 1.8% cobalt oxide (e.g., Co3O4): 0.001 to 1.0% titanium oxide (e.g., TiO2): 0.25 to 3.0% selenium (e.g., Se): 0 to 0.0020% chromium oxide (e.g., Cr2O3): 0 to 0.010%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventors: Ksenia A. Landa, Leonid Landa, Richard Hulme
  • Publication number: 20070215205
    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: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2006
    Publication date: September 20, 2007
    Applicant: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventors: Scott Thomsen, Richard Hulme, Leonid Landa, Ksenia Landa
  • Publication number: 20070209698
    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: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Inventors: Scott Thomsen, Richard Hulme, Leonid Landa, Ksenia Landa
  • Publication number: 20070207912
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method of making soda-lime-silica based glass. In certain example embodiments, boron oxide (e.g., B2O3) is used in the glass for reducing the refining time (or increasing the refining rate) thereof. The boron oxide may be introduced into the glass batch or melt in the form of boric acid, sodium tetraborate pentahydrate, sodium tetraborate decahydrate, sodium pentahydrate, or in any other suitable form. In certain example embodiments, the resulting soda-lime-silica based glass ends up including from about 0.1 to 3%, more preferably from about 0.1 to 2.5%, and most preferably from about 0.5 to 2.0% (e.g., about 1%), boron oxide. It has been found that the use of boron oxide, and/or the form in which the same is introduced into the glass, is advantageous in that it permits the refining time of the glass to be substantially reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Publication date: September 6, 2007
    Applicant: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventors: Richard Hulme, Scott Thomsen, Karl Platt, Leonid Landa, Ksenia Landa
  • Publication number: 20070032368
    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: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2005
    Publication date: February 8, 2007
    Applicant: Guardian Industries Corp.
    Inventors: Leonid Landa, Ksenia Landa, Richard Hulme, Scott Thomsen, Anthony Longobardo