Patents by Inventor Robert B. Rutherford

Robert B. Rutherford 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: 6279856
    Abstract: An electrothermal zoned de-icing system for an aircraft employs a heat-conducting tape bonded to the leading edge of an aircraft structure. The heat-conducting tape has a spanwise parting strip area, and first and second ice accumulation and shedding zones. The tape comprises a non-metallic electrical and heat conducting layer consisting of flexible expanded graphite foil laminated to an outer heat-conducting layer, in which the thickness of the flexible expanded graphite foil layer in the parting strip area is always greater than the thickness of the foil layer in either of the ice accumulation and shedding zones. Therefore, the parting strip area has a decreased electrical resistance, a greater flow of current, and becomes hotter than the zones in which the foil layer is thinner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Northcoast Technologies
    Inventors: Robert B. Rutherford, Richard L. Dudman
  • Patent number: 6237874
    Abstract: An electrothermal zoned de-icing system for an aircraft employs a heat-conducting tape bonded to the leading edge of an aircraft structure subject to an impinging airstream during flight. The heat-conducting tape has a spanwise parting strip area, and first and second ice accumulation and shedding zones. The tape comprises a non-metallic electrical and heat-conducting layer consisting of flexible expanded graphite foil laminated to an outer heat-conducting layer, in which the thickness of the flexible expanded graphite foil layer in the parting strip area is always greater than the thickness of the foil layer in either of the ice accumulation and shedding zones. Therefore, the parting strip area has a decreased electrical resistance, a greater flow of current, and becomes hotter than the zones in which the foil layer is thinner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Northcoast Technologies
    Inventors: Robert B. Rutherford, Richard L. Dudman
  • Patent number: 6194685
    Abstract: A thermal de-ice and anti-ice system for aircraft surfaces employs a laminate in which flexible expanded graphite foil is an electrical and heat conducting layer that is disposed below an outer heat conducting layer, with an electrically insulating layer below the graphite layer. The flexible expanded graphite layer requires about three times less wattage than known resistance heating pad thermal systems to achieve de-ice and/or anti-ice temperatures. The temperature of the surface is controlled by varying the power supplied to the flexible expanded graphite layer of the laminate in response to a real time temperature value transmitted to a power control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Northcoast Technologies
    Inventor: Robert B. Rutherford
  • Patent number: 5934617
    Abstract: A thermal de-ice and anti-ice system for aircraft surfaces employs a laminate in which flexible expanded graphite foil is an electrical and heat conducting layer that is disposed below an outer heat conducting layer, with an electrically insulating layer below the graphite layer. The flexible expanded graphite layer requires about three times less wattage than known resistance heating pad thermal systems to achieve de-ice and/or anti-ice temperatures. The temperature of the surface is controlled by varying the power supplied to the flexible expanded graphite layer of the laminate in response to a real time temperature value transmitted to a power control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Northcoast Technologies
    Inventor: Robert B. Rutherford
  • Patent number: 5885829
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods for regenerating dental and oral tissues from viable cells using ex vivo culture on a structural matrix. The regenerated oral tissues and tissue-matrix preparations thus provided have both clinical applications in dentistry and oral medicine and are also useful in in vitro toxicity and biocompatibility testing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: David J. Mooney, Robert B. Rutherford
  • Patent number: 5376636
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the regeneration of tissue, the treatment of external wounds and the treatment of periodontal disease comprising applying to the affected tissue an effective amount of a composition comprised of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and an anti-inflammatory compound. The presence of the anti-inflammatory compound potentiates the activity of PDGF in stimulating cell growth, thereby enhancing tissue regeneration and/or wound healing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignees: Creative BioMolecules, Inc., The University of Conn.
    Inventors: Robert B. Rutherford, Marc F. Charette
  • Patent number: 5149691
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for the regeneration of tissue, the treatment of external wounds and the treatment of periodontal disease comprised of applying to the afflicted tissue a pharmaceutically effective amount of a composition comprised of platelet-derived growth factor and dexamethasone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignee: Creative BioMolecules, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert B. Rutherford