Patents by Inventor Richard L. Bloom

Richard L. Bloom 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: 5702494
    Abstract: An efficient, light-weight airbag inflation filter includes a gas-permeable, substantially rigid support tube having a plurality of uniform perforations therethrough. A filtering element formed from a continuous inorganic ceramic yarn or roving is helically cross-wound around the support tube to form one or more layers covering the perforations of the support tube. A wire screen, having openings therethrough smaller than the perforations in the support tube, is disposed between the filtering element and the support tube to act as a gas diffusion layer for the gases passing through the inflation filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Thomas L. Tompkins, Ryan C. Shirk, Steven C. Schroeer, Richard P. Merry, Troy K. Ista, Richard L. Bloom
  • Patent number: 5453116
    Abstract: A device and method for maintaining a clean gas stream includes a particulate filter comprising of support tube made from a formed textile. The formed textile is constructed from a continuous filament inorganic yarn and is porous to allow gas and particulates therein to pass through the support tube. A filtering element is disposed about the support tube to trap particulates in the exhaust gas. The formed textile which defines the support tube is relatively flexible in its natural state. To act as a supporting structure, the formed textile is made less flexible by the application of an inorganic binder. The natural flexibility of the formed textile minimizes the damaging effects of mechanical and thermal shock, while the inorganic binder stiffens the formed textile and allows the support tube to support itself and the filtering element thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Edward M. Fischer, Richard L. Bloom, Stephen M. Sanocki, Joel H. Sabean
  • Patent number: 5409669
    Abstract: An electrically regenerable diesel particulate filter cartridge and filter comprising a slotted electrically resistive tube which, when energized, heats the filter media to a temperature sufficient to allow the trapped soot particulates to burn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Mark P. Smith, Richard L. Bloom, Thomas J. Conway
  • Patent number: 5258164
    Abstract: An electrically regenerable diesel particulate trap or filter comprising an electrically resistive expanded metal sheet or sleeve which when energized heats the filter element to a temperature sufficient to allow the trapped soot particulates to burn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1993
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Richard L. Bloom, William T. Fay, Joel H. Sabean, Mark P. Smith
  • Patent number: 5248482
    Abstract: An efficient, economical, compact diesel particulate filter comprising a casing comprising a plurality of perforated, supported, rigid tubes wherein the perforated surface of each tube is covered by a filtering element comprising substantially helically cross-wound inorganic yarn, and wherein the yarn is cross-wound to provide four-sided openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Richard L. Bloom
  • Patent number: 5248481
    Abstract: An efficient, economical, compact diesel particulate trap has a plurality of perforated hollow tubes, on each of which a heat-resistant yarn is helically cross-wound to provide a plurality of layers that function as a filtering element. The yarn, which preferably is a continuous-filament ceramic yarn, has a core from which filaments or fiber segments project outwardly and intermesh with fiber segments of laterally spaced cores to provide traps. The cores of yarn convolutions of at least one layer are laterally offset from the cores of convolutions of an adjacent layer to deflect into tortuous paths gases flowing generally radially through the filtering element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Richard L. Bloom, Troy K. Ista, Mark P. Smith
  • Patent number: 4371874
    Abstract: Chaff dipole elements formed from a plurality of different materials of the ame size and length but of different weight suitable for placing into a dispensing package and dispersed as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1973
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1983
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Richard L. Bloom