Patents by Inventor Richard P. Merry

Richard P. Merry 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: 10995454
    Abstract: A method of making nonwoven fibrous materials suitable for use in a pollution control device or as a firestop, where the method comprises: providing a first slurry comprising water, first inorganic fibers, a first organic binder, and a first neutral pH flocculent; removing first waste water from the first slurry; optionally forming a first nonwoven fibrous material from the first slurry; providing a second slurry comprising a quantity of the first waste water, an optional quantity of relatively clean water, second inorganic fibers, a second organic binder, and a second flocculent that is the same and/or a different flocculent than that used in the first slurry; and forming a second nonwoven fibrous material from the second slurry. The addition of the first waste water in the second slurry does not adversely affect the flocculation of the second organic binder in the second slurry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Richard P. Merry, Ian R. I. Harding, Gary F. Howorth
  • Patent number: 9494071
    Abstract: The present invention provides a multilayer mounting mat for mounting a pollution control element. The mounting mat comprises a layer of intumescent material between two non-intumescent layers defining opposite major sides of the mounting mat. The mounting mat in accordance with the present invention is suitable for mounting a pollution control element in a pollution control device and is in particular suitable for mounting fragile monolith such as thin-wall and ultra thin-wall monoliths. Also, the mounting mats conveniently exhibit a good or excellent holding pressure over a wide temperature range and can be formulated in an inexpensive way. The invention also provides a pollution control device comprising a pollution control element arranged in a casing with the mounting mat disposed between the casing and pollution control element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventor: Richard P. Merry
  • Publication number: 20160305071
    Abstract: A method of making nonwoven fibrous materials suitable for use in a pollution control device or as a firestop, where the method comprises: providing a first slurry comprising water, first inorganic fibers, a first organic binder, and a first neutral pH flocculent; removing first waste water from the first slurry; optionally forming a first nonwoven fibrous material from the first slurry; providing a second slurry comprising a quantity of the first waste water, an optional quantity of relatively clean water, second inorganic fibers, a second organic binder, and a second flocculent that is the same and/or a different flocculent than that used in the first slurry; and forming a second nonwoven fibrous material from the second slurry. The addition of the first waste water in the second slurry does not adversely affect the flocculation of the second organic binder in the second slurry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Richard P. Merry, Ian R. I. Harding, Gary F. Howorth
  • Patent number: 9358749
    Abstract: Tubular, continuous, seamless, compressible, resilient mounting article comprising inorganic fibers, and having an inner curved surface, a central longitudinal axis, and a uniform internal cross-sectional area along the central longitudinal axis. The mounting articles are useful, for example, in mounting pollution control elements in pollution control devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Richard P. Merry, Javier E. Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 9290866
    Abstract: Non-woven mat including basalt and amorphous refractory ceramic fibers, bio-soluble ceramic fibers, and/or heat-treated silica fibers. Embodiments of the non-woven mat surprisingly have a Resiliency Value after three thermal cycles from 25° C. to 700° C./400° C. of the Real Condition Fixture Test at least 1.1 times greater than the Resiliency Value of a comparable non-woven mat consisting of any individual type of fibers of the non-woven mat. The non-woven mats are useful, for example, in pollution control devices and other thermal insulation applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Anne N. De Rovere, Lahoussaine Lalouch, Richard P. Merry
  • Patent number: 8916102
    Abstract: Non-woven mat including magnesium aluminum silicate glass fibers and amorphous refractory ceramic fibers, bio-soluble ceramic fibers, and/or heat-treated silica fibers. Embodiments of the nonwoven mat surprisingly have a Resiliency Value after three thermal cycles from 25° C. to 700° C./400° C. of the Real Condition Fixture Test at least 1.1 times greater than the Resiliency Value of a comparable non-woven mat consisting of any individual type of fibers of the non-woven mat. The non-woven mats are useful, for example, in pollution control devices and other thermal insulation applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Anne N. De Rovere, Lahoussaine Lalouch, Richard P. Merry
  • Patent number: 8522828
    Abstract: A double-walled exhaust system component having glass bubbles disposed between inner and outer pipes and method of making the same. The glass bubbles have a size distribution wherein, on a bulk volume basis, at least 90 percent of the glass bubbles have a size of less than 150 micrometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Richard P. Merry
  • Patent number: 8356639
    Abstract: A double-walled exhaust system component having hollow ceramic microspheres disposed between inner and outer pipes and method of making the same. The hollow ceramic microspheres have a size distribution wherein, on a bulk volume basis, at least 90 percent of the hollow ceramic microsphere have a size of less than 150 micrometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Richard P. Merry
  • Patent number: 8231836
    Abstract: Inorganic fiber mounting and insulating sheet materials for use in pollution control devices with at least one edge of the inorganic fiber sheet material having at least one group of two or more fibers fused together. A pollution control device comprising such a sheet material. A process for cutting at least one section from a sheet containing inorganic fiber material, where the sheet material is suitable for use in a pollution control device. The fibrous sheet material is cut so that the cut edge has at least one group of two or more fibers fused together. A laser beam can be used to cut the desired section out of the inorganic fiber sheet material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Richard P. Merry
  • Publication number: 20120135205
    Abstract: Inorganic fiber mounting and insulating sheet materials for use in pollution control devices with at least one edge of the inorganic fiber sheet material having at least one group of two or more fibers fused together. A pollution control device comprising such a sheet material. A process for cutting at least one section from a sheet containing inorganic fiber material, where the sheet material is suitable for use in a pollution control device. The fibrous sheet material is cut so that the cut edge has at least one group of two or more fibers fused together. A laser beam can be used to cut the desired section out of the inorganic fiber sheet material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2012
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Inventor: Richard P. Merry
  • Patent number: 8186058
    Abstract: An exhaust system component (18, 10) for use in an exhaust system of a motor vehicle. The exhaust system component comprises a double wall surrounding a space (9, 11; 21) through which exhaust gas may flow when the exhaust system component is in use in an exhaust system. The double wall is comprised of a first and second metal wall (12, 14; 26, 28) that define between them a gap. The gap comprises an insulation material (16) made of chopped aluminium or magnesium aluminium silicate glass fibers. The insulation material can be in the form of, for example, an end cone perform. The exhaust system component can be an exhaust pipe (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Richard P. Merry
  • Publication number: 20120107186
    Abstract: Tubular, continuous, seamless, compressible, resilient mounting article comprising inorganic fibers, and having an inner curved surface, a central longitudinal axis, and a uniform internal cross-sectional area along the central longitudinal axis. The mounting articles are useful, for example, in mounting pollution control elements in pollution control devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: Richard P. Merry, Javier E. Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 8133443
    Abstract: Inorganic fiber mounting and insulating sheet materials for use in pollution control devices with at least one edge of the inorganic fiber sheet material having at least one group of two or more fibers fused together. A pollution control device comprising such a sheet material. A process for cutting at least one section from a sheet containing inorganic fiber material, where the sheet material is suitable for use in a pollution control device. The fibrous sheet material is cut so that the cut edge has at least one group of two or more fibers fused together. A laser beam can be used to cut the desired section out of the inorganic fiber sheet material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Richard P. Merry
  • Publication number: 20110240165
    Abstract: Non-woven mat including basalt and amorphous refractory ceramic fibers, bio-soluble ceramic fibers, and/or heat-treated silica fibers. Embodiments of the non-woven mat surprisingly have a Resiliency Value after three thermal cycles from 25° C. to 700° C./400° C. of the Real Condition Fixture Test at least 1.1 times greater than the Resiliency Value of a comparable non-woven mat consisting of any individual type of fibers of the non-woven mat. The non-woven mats are useful, for example, in pollution control devices and other thermal insulation applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventors: Anne N. De Rovere, Lahoussaine Lalouch, Richard P. Merry
  • Publication number: 20110232243
    Abstract: Non-woven mat including magnesium aluminum silicate glass fibers and amorphous refractory ceramic fibers, bio-soluble ceramic fibers, and/or heat-treated silica fibers. Embodiments of the nonwoven mat surprisingly have a Resiliency Value after three thermal cycles from 25° C. to 700° C./400° C. of the Real Condition Fixture Test at least 1.1 times greater than the Resiliency Value of a comparable non-woven mat consisting of any individual type of fibers of the non-woven mat. The non-woven mats are useful, for example, in pollution control devices and other thermal insulation applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Anne N. De Rovere, Lahoussaine Lalouch, Richard P. Merry
  • Patent number: 7854904
    Abstract: The present invention provides a mounting mat (30) for mounting a pollution control monolith (20) in a pollution control device (10). The mounting mat has a bulk density of 0.12 to 0.3 g/cm3 and comprises (i) a layer of chopped magnesium aluminium silicate glass fibers and (ii) a layer of ceramic fibers obtainable from a sol-gel process. Preferably, the layer of chopped magnesium aluminium silicate glass fibers and the layer of ceramic fibers define opposite major surfaces of the mat. The present invention further provides a pollution control device (10), comprising a pollution control monolith (20) arranged in a metallic casing (11) with the mounting mat (30) disposed between the metallic casing (11) and pollution control monolith (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Richard P. Merry
  • Patent number: 7704459
    Abstract: A pollution control device suitable for use with an internal combustion engine (e.g., a diesel engine) and comprising a pollution control element arranged in a casing with non-woven mat disposed between the casing and the pollution control element, said non-woven mat being a non-intumescent mat comprising at least 90% by weight based on the total weight of the mat of chopped magnesium aluminum silicate glass fibers that have a number average diameter of 5? or more and a length of 0.5 to 15 cm, said glass fibers being needle punched or stitch bonded and said mat being free or substantially free of organic binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Richard P. Merry, Ulrich E. Kunze, Michael D. Swan
  • Patent number: 7645426
    Abstract: Multilayer mats, pollution control devices containing the multilayer mats, and methods of making the multilayer mats are described. The multilayer mats include an intumescent layer sandwiched between two non-intumescent layers. The non-intumescent layers contain inorganic fibers and have a larger area than the intumescent layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Richard P. Merry
  • Publication number: 20090277526
    Abstract: A double-walled exhaust system component having glass bubbles disposed between inner and outer pipes and method of making the same. The glass bubbles have a size distribution wherein, on a bulk volume basis, at least 90 percent of the glass bubbles have a size of less than 150 micrometers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventor: Richard P. Merry
  • Publication number: 20090208384
    Abstract: Inorganic fiber mounting and insulating sheet materials for use in pollution control devices with at least one edge of the inorganic fiber sheet material having at least one group of two or more fibers fused together. A pollution control device comprising such a sheet material. A process for cutting at least one section from a sheet containing inorganic fiber material, where the sheet material is suitable for use in a pollution control device. The fibrous sheet material is cut so that the cut edge has at least one group of two or more fibers fused together. A laser beam can be used to cut the desired section out of the inorganic fiber sheet material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2005
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Inventor: Richard P. Merry