Patents by Inventor Robert B. Clay

Robert B. Clay 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: 5308546
    Abstract: The phosphorescent toy gel composition is produced by suspending phosphorescent particles in an aqueous solution, thickened with guar gum and crosslinked by a borate compound. The method for manufacturing the phosphorescent gel composition comprises, in one aspect, the steps of providing a water-based solution with a borate ion-containing compound dissolved in the water, providing guar gum and phosphorescent particles suspended and dispersed in propylene glycol, and mixing the water-based solution and the propylene glycol dispersion in a proportion to provide a phosphorescent gel composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: Glow-Tec
    Inventors: Gary L. Hansen, Richard E. Trapp, Robert B. Clay
  • Patent number: 5226986
    Abstract: Process for the formulation of a multi-component explosive composition from non-detonable components comprising a defined body of unconsolidated particulate aluminum fuel granules and an oxidizing liquid. Specific particulate aluminum fuel has an average particle size within the range of about 1/64-1/4 inch and is packed within a container or other confining structure to provide an average bulk density within the range of 0.2-1.0 gm/cc. The aluminum fuel particles are generally wadded-up aluminum foil granules. The oxidizing liquid added to the body of aluminum fuel fills the void space between granules of aluminum entrapping some voids within the granules to provide an average bulk density of the mixture of oxidizing liquid and particulate aluminum within the of 1.2-1.7 gm/cc, creating an explosive, formulation which is detonable in a diameter of 4 inches at 20.degree. C. by a one pound pentolite booster and normally by a 1/2 pound pentolite booster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1993
    Inventors: Gary L. Hansen, Richard E. Trapp, Robert B. Clay
  • Patent number: 5007973
    Abstract: A multicomponent explosive composition and its use as a blasting agent in ditching operations and the like. The explosive comprises a fuel component and an oxidizer compnent, both of which are retained in the liquid state over wide temperature ranges and are stable over long storage intervals. The fuel component comprises a suspension of a particulate metal fuel, specifically aluminum, in a carrier liquid formed of a mixture of a water-miscible polyhydric alcohol and a pyrrolidone solvent. The carrier liquid contains a thickening agent to provide thixotropic rheological properties such that the particulate metal fuel remains in suspension at rest, but with shear forces induced by pumping, the components become more fluid for mixing and pumping easily. The oxidizer component comprises an aqueous solution of an inorganic oxidizer salt. The oxidizer solution contains void-containing materials such as glass or saran microbubbles. The void-containing materials may be suspended in the fuel component also.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1991
    Assignee: Atlas Powder Company
    Inventors: Richard E. Trapp, Gary L. Hansen, Robert B. Clay, Lawrence J. Dubetsky, Robert S. Olney
  • Patent number: 4294633
    Abstract: A blasting composition of high solids content, usually of plastic solid consistency, is composed of 60 to 90 parts by weight of solid particulate oxidizer salt, which is mainly ammonium nitrate, preferably fertilizer grade prills, and 10 to 40% of liquid slurry partially filling the interstices and voids in and between the solid particles. The slurry is one that will not appreciably dissolve or soften the granules, hence it is preferably a substantially saturated and thickened solution, in non-aqueous solvent, of strong oxidizer salt, typically ammonium and/or calcium nitrate to which sodium nitrate may be added. The preferred solvent is a low molecular weight polar organic liquid, selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethylene glycol, formamide and ethanol. In some cases isopropanol or propylene glycol may be included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1981
    Inventor: Robert B. Clay
  • Patent number: 4195548
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pump truck for handling aqueous slurry blasting agents. The truck is designed to mix and pump the slurry without the use of augers, electrical drives, hydraulic drives, ingredient flow drive motors or other such equipment, resulting in increased safety and improved function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1980
    Inventors: Merrill A. Cook, Robert B. Clay
  • Patent number: 4181546
    Abstract: A pourable blasting agent of high water resistance, having controlled density and bulk blasting strength greater than that of conventional ammonium nitrate-fuel oil (ANFO) mixtures, comprises two main essential components, i.e. (1) 40 to 60% by weight of a dry or essentially dry, solid, particulate oxidizer salt, with or without added fuel oil for oxygen balance and (2) 60 to 40% of a water-in-oil emulsion containing oxidizer salt dissolved in water and combined with an oily vehicle held in stable emulsion condition with a small quantity of water-in-oil emulsifier, the emulsion also containing a density controlled sensitizer such as hollow glass beads, polystyrene beads, microballoons or equivalent. The first component is preferably a fertilizer grade prilled ammonium nitrate, with or without added oil; the second is of heavy oil or grease consistency having high resistance to the extraction of salt therefrom in water and being of substantially higher bulk density than the particulate material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1980
    Inventor: Robert B. Clay
  • Patent number: 4111727
    Abstract: A blasting composition is disclosed having bulk density and hence explosive energy superior to that of conventional ammonium nitrate fuel oil mixtures, e.g. 94% AN, 6% fuel oil mixtures, but of nearly comparable cost. It comprises two major constituents blended together, namely, (1) about 10 to 40% by weight of a water in oil emulsion which includes aqueous solution of a powerful oxidizer salt as the disperse or inner phase and an oil serving to provide oxygen balance as the external or continuous phase, this emulsion being mixed or blended with (2) a mass of essentially solid particulate oxidizer salt in proportions of 60 to 90% of the total. The emulsion, which may be also a slurry, is mixed to partially but not completely fill the pores or interstices in the solid particulate mass, thereby to increase bulk density, part of the spaces being left unfilled to provide aeration and active sites or "hot spots" to facilitate detonation of the composition by standard detonation devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1978
    Inventor: Robert B. Clay
  • Patent number: 4102240
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a pump truck for handling aqueous slurry blasting agents. The truck is designed to mix and pump the slurry without the use of augers, electrical drives, hydraulic drives, ingredient flow drive motors or other such equipment, resulting in increased safety and improved function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1978
    Inventors: Merrill A. Cook, Robert B. Clay
  • Patent number: 3971437
    Abstract: A simple dewatering system comprises hollow expandable bore-plugging body which can be set in place and locked there in the borehole, at any desired level, by simply pumping compressed air into it. An orifice of calculated size in the bottom of the body allows compressed air to escape and build up pressure below to raise the water in the lower part of the hole to the ground surface through a conduit which extends from the borehole bottom to a level above the ground. The orifice, which may be adjustable, maintains a predetermined minimum pressure differential inside the body which pressure is enough higher than the water-expelling pressure below to keep the body tightly inflated so it cannot slide upwardly. Compressed air escapes continuously through the orifice so that outflow of water from the borehole bottom is continuous until the water level reaches the bottom of the outflow conduit, when the conduit is blown clear, preventing run-back of the water in the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1976
    Inventors: Robert B. Clay, Lex L. Udy
  • Patent number: RE28848
    Abstract: Slurry blasting compositions of low water content and high density, including substantial proportions of calcium nitrate as an oxidizer component, can be sensitized in various ways to produce economical explosive compositions. Sensitizers may include aluminum powder, granular explosives such as smokeless powder, TNT, etc.; a particularly preferred sensitizer or fuel is ethylene glycol. Solid carbonaceous fuels and conventional thickeners may be added. The calcium nitrate may be produced directly from burned lime with nitric acid and/or other nitrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1972
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1976
    Assignee: Ireco Chemicals
    Inventors: Robert B. Clay, Melvin A. Cook, Lex L. Udy
  • Patent number: RE33788
    Abstract: A blasting composition is disclosed having bulk density and hence explosive energy superior to that of conventional ammonium nitrate fuel oil mixtures, e.g. 94% AN, 6% fuel oil mixtures, but of nearly comparable cost. It comprises two major constituents blended together, namely, (1) about 10 to 40% by weight of a water in oil emulsion which includes aqueous solution of a powerful oxidizer salt as the disperse or inner phase and an oil serving to provide oxygen balance as the external or continuous phase, this emulsion being mixed or blended with (2) a mass of essentially solid particulate oxidizer salt in proportions of 60 to 90% of the total. The emulsion, which may be also a slurry, is mixed to partially but not completely fill the pores or interstices in the solid particulate mass, thereby to increase bulk density, part of the spaces being left unfilled to provide aeration and active sites or "hot spots" to facilitate detonation of the composition by standard detonation devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1992
    Assignee: Hanex Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert B. Clay