Patents by Inventor Robert John Locker
Robert John Locker 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: 11919194Abstract: A method of plugging channels of a honeycomb body and a honeycomb body including plugged channels. The method includes applying a shear force to a plugging mixture including a plurality of inorganic particles, clay, and a liquid vehicle to alter the viscosity of the plugging mixture from a first viscosity prior to the vibrating to a second viscosity which is less than the first viscosity. A honeycomb body is placed into contact with the plugging mixture such that a portion of the plugging mixture having the second viscosity flows into the plurality of channels. Application of the shear force is stopped or reduced to increase the viscosity of the portion of the plugging mixture in the plurality of channels to greater than the first viscosity.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2021Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: Corning IncorporatedInventors: Keith Norman Bubb, Theresa Chang, Joseph Henry Citriniti, Kevin Eugene Elliott, Xinyuan Liu, Robert John Locker, Prashanth Abraham Vanniamparambil, Kevin Lee Wasson, Shu Yuan
-
Patent number: 11883768Abstract: A method for plugging a subset of cells of a honeycomb structure that includes: covering a first end face of the honeycomb structure with a mask that comprises a body and a plurality of openings, wherein the plurality of openings of the mask is coincident with a plurality of cells of the honeycomb structure; providing a plug of material upon a film material; applying a force to the film material with a piston to push the plug of material through the plurality of openings of the mask and into the plurality of cells of the honeycomb structure; and measuring a plurality of pressures within the plurality of cells of the honeycomb structure during the applying step.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2019Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: Corning IncorporatedInventors: Robert John Locker, Robert Arthur McIntosh, Joel Andrew Schultes
-
Publication number: 20210316242Abstract: A method for plugging a subset of cells of a honeycomb structure that includes: covering a first end face of the honeycomb structure with a mask that comprises a body and a plurality of openings, wherein the plurality of openings of the mask is coincident with a plurality of cells of the honeycomb structure; providing a plug of material upon a film material; applying a force to the film material with a piston to push the plug of material through the plurality of openings of the mask and into the plurality of cells of the honeycomb structure; and measuring a plurality of pressures within the plurality of cells of the honeycomb structure during the applying step.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2019Publication date: October 14, 2021Inventors: Robert John Locker, Robert Arthur McIntosh, Joel Andrew Schultes
-
Publication number: 20210299909Abstract: A method for plugging a subset of cells of a honeycomb structure that includes: covering a first end face of the honeycomb structure with a mask that comprises a body and a plurality of openings, wherein the plurality of openings of the mask is coincident with a plurality of cells of the honeycomb structure; providing a plenum, a movable plunger and a flow plate; positioning a cylinder between the honeycomb structure and the plenum; dispensing a plugging material into the plenum; moving the plunger toward the flow plate with a force to push the plugging material through the flow plate into the cylinder, the moving generating a pressure in the plenum and the cylinder that forces the plugging material through the mask into the plurality of cells of the honeycomb structure to a predetermined depth; and determining the pressure within the cylinder during the moving of the plunger.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2019Publication date: September 30, 2021Inventors: Kyle Owen Beebe, Robert John Locker, Robert Arthur McIntosh, Joel Andrew Schultes
-
Publication number: 20210146574Abstract: A method of plugging channels of a honeycomb body and a honeycomb body including plugged channels. The method includes applying a shear force to a plugging mixture including a plurality of inorganic particles, clay, and a liquid vehicle to alter the viscosity of the plugging mixture from a first viscosity prior to the vibrating to a second viscosity which is less than the first viscosity. A honeycomb body is placed into contact with the plugging mixture such that a portion of the plugging mixture having the second viscosity flows into the plurality of channels. Application of the shear force is stopped or reduced to increase the viscosity of the portion of the plugging mixture in the plurality of channels to greater than the first viscosity.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2021Publication date: May 20, 2021Inventors: Keith Norman Bubb, Theresa Chang, Joseph Henry Citriniti, Kevin Eugene Elliott, Xinyuan Liu, Robert John Locker, Prashanth Abraham Vanniamparambil, Kevin Lee Wasson, Shu Yuan
-
Honeycomb structure comprising a cement skin composition with crystalline inorganic fibrous material
Patent number: 10603633Abstract: Disclosed is a honeycomb support structure comprising a honeycomb body and an outer layer or skin formed of a cement that includes an inorganic filler material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion from 25 C to 600 C and a crystalline inorganic fibrous material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion from 25 C to 600 C. Skin cement composition controls level of cement liquid/colloid components, for example water, colloidal silica, and methylcellulose migration into the substrate during the skin application process to form barrier to skin wetting and staining during the washcoating process.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2015Date of Patent: March 31, 2020Assignee: Corning IncorporatedInventors: Keith Norman Bubb, Thomas Richard Chapman, Kenneth Joseph Drury, Christopher Lane Kerr, Mark Alan Lewis, Robert John Locker, Huthavahana Kuchibhotla Sarma, Todd Parrish St Clair -
Patent number: 10301222Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for preparing a titanate compound powder comprising titanate compound particles having a controlled particle size and/or particle size distribution. The methods include mixing at least one first inorganic compound chosen from sources of a first metal or metal oxide, at least one second inorganic compound chosen from sources of titania, and at least one binder to form a mixture; calcining the mixture to form a polycrystalline material comprising a plurality of titanate compound grains and a plurality of microcracks; and breaking the polycrystalline material along at least a portion of the microcracks. Also disclosed are titanate compound powders having a controlled particle size distribution, ceramic batch compositions comprising the powders, and ceramic articles prepared from the batch compositions.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2015Date of Patent: May 28, 2019Assignee: Corning IncorporatedInventors: Monika Backhaus-Ricoult, Robert John Locker, Huthavahana Kuchibhotla Sarma, Patrick David Tepesch
-
Patent number: 9908259Abstract: A control strategy for producing high quality extrudates, including the steps of monitoring the temperature of a ceramic precursor batch by measuring the temperature of the batch material either directly or indirectly by measuring the temperature of a component of the extruder proximate to the die and transmitting the temperature data to an extrusion control system which comprises a master controller (106), at least one slave controller (110) and an optional supervisory controller. The supervisory controller determines batch temperature setpoint (102) in order to achieve the desired temperatures for extruding a certain type of batch material based on real time temperature inputs and stored parameters such as batch composition, process throughput, extruder cooling capacity, and the like.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2009Date of Patent: March 6, 2018Assignee: Corning IncorporatedInventors: Dennis M Brown, Maryam Khanbaghi, Robert John Locker, Wenbin Qiu, Kenneth Charles Sariego, Conor James Walsh
-
Publication number: 20170362128Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods for preparing a titanate compound powder comprising titanate compound particles having a controlled particle size and/or particle size distribution. The methods include mixing at least one first inorganic compound chosen from sources of a first metal or metal oxide, at least one second inorganic compound chosen from sources of titania, and at least one binder to form a mixture; calcining the mixture to form a polycrystalline material comprising a plurality of titanate compound grains and a plurality of micro-cracks; and breaking the polycrystalline material along at least a portion of the microcracks. Also disclosed are titanate compound powders having a controlled particle size distribution, ceramic batch compositions comprising the powders, and ceramic articles prepared from the batch compositions.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2015Publication date: December 21, 2017Inventors: Monika Backhaus-Ricoult, Robert John Locker, Huthavahana Kuchibhotla Sarma, Patrick David Tepesch
-
HONEYCOMB STRUCTURE COMPRISING A CEMENT SKIN COMPOSITION WITH CRYSTALLINE INORGANIC FIBROUS MATERIAL
Publication number: 20170044066Abstract: Disclosed is a honeycomb support structure comprising a honeycomb body and an outer layer or skin formed of a cement that includes an inorganic filler material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion from 25 C to 600 C and a crystalline inorganic fibrous material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion from 25 C to 600 C. Skin cement composition controls level of cement liquid/colloid components, for example water, colloidal silica, and methylcellulose migration into the substrate during the skin application process to form barrier to skin wetting and staining during the washcoating process.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2015Publication date: February 16, 2017Inventors: Keith Norman Bubb, Thomas Richard Chapman, Kenneth Joseph Drury, Christopher Lane Kerr, Mark Alan Lewis, Robert John Locker, Huthavahana Kuchibhotla Sarma, Todd Parrish St Clair -
Patent number: 9133061Abstract: A method for making a ceramic body, the method including: mixing inorganic ceramic-forming ingredients to form a batch; adding a rapidly hydratable cellulosic binder and a liquid vehicle to the batch and further mixing to form a plasticized mixture; extruding the plasticized mixture to form a green body. The green body can then be heated sufficiently to produce a predominant ceramic phase, thereby transforming the green body into the ceramic body.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2010Date of Patent: September 15, 2015Assignee: Corning IncorporatedInventors: Gregg William Crume, Robert John Locker, Earl James Sanford
-
Patent number: 8974724Abstract: Aluminum titanate precursor batch compositions comprising a recycled aluminum titanate component, at least a portion of the recycled aluminum titanate component being comprised of a recycled pre-reacted aluminum titanate composition or alternatively of an un-reacted green aluminum titanate precursor composition, and methods for producing aluminum titanate ceramic articles utilizing the inventive batch compositions.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2006Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: Corning IncorporatedInventors: John Paul Day, Robert John Locker, David Lambie Tennent, Christopher John Warren
-
Patent number: 8672660Abstract: A plate suitable for positioning with an extruder apparatus is provided in which the plate includes at least one temperature sensor. The plate is upstream of the die located at or near the end of the extruder apparatus. The sensor(s) allow for the simultaneous measurement of batch material temperatures at multiple spatial locations across the face of the plate. The temperature sensors associated with the plate can be used to identify spatial and temporal temperature patterns within the batch flow.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2013Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Corning IncorporatedInventors: Joseph Henry Citriniti, Gregory Eisenstock, Robert John Locker
-
Publication number: 20130295210Abstract: A plate suitable for positioning with an extruder apparatus is provided in which the plate includes at least one temperature sensor. The plate is upstream of the die located at or near the end of the extruder apparatus. The sensor(s) allow for the simultaneous measurement of batch material temperatures at multiple spatial locations across the face of the plate. The temperature sensors associated with the plate can be used to identify spatial and temporal temperature patterns within the batch flow.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2013Publication date: November 7, 2013Inventors: Joseph Henry Citriniti, Gregory Eisenstock, Robert John Locker
-
Publication number: 20120226375Abstract: A control strategy for producing high quality extrudates, including the steps of monitoring the temperature of a ceramic precursor batch by measuring the temperature of the batch material either directly or indirectly by measuring the temperature of a component of the extruder proximate to the die and transmitting the temperature data to an extrusion control system which comprises a master controller (106), at least one slave controller (110) and an optional supervisory controller. The supervisory controller determines batch temperature setpoint (102) in order to achieve the desired temperatures for extruding a certain type of batch material based on real time temperature inputs and stored parameters such as batch composition, process throughput, extruder cooling capacity, and the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2009Publication date: September 6, 2012Applicant: Corning IncorporatedInventors: Dennis M. Brown, Maryam Khanbaghi, Robert John Locker, Wenbin Qiu, Kenneth Charles Sariego, Conor James Walsh
-
Publication number: 20120133065Abstract: Systems and methods for real-time, closed-loop shape control of extruded ceramic honeycomb structures are disclosed. Methods include extruding batch material through an extruder barrel and through an extruder die using at least one extrusion screw to form the extrudate, and measuring a shape of the extrudate immediately adjacent the die. The batch material water content is determined or measured, at least one of the extruder barrel and screw temperature are measured, and the extrusion screw rotation rate are measured. At least one of the batch material water content, barrel temperature, screw temperature and rotation rate is adjusted to maintain the extrudate shape to within a select tolerance.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2011Publication date: May 31, 2012Inventors: Stephen John Caffrey, Joseph Henry Citriniti, Robert John Locker, Robert Bernard Lubberts, Daniel Edward McCauley, David Robert Potts, David Robertson Treacy, JR., Casey Allen Volino
-
Publication number: 20120025432Abstract: A method for making a ceramic body, the method including: mixing inorganic ceramic-forming ingredients to form a batch; adding a rapidly hydratable cellulosic binder and a liquid vehicle to the batch and further mixing to form a plasticized mixture; extruding the plasticized mixture to form a green body. The green body can then be heated sufficiently to produce a predominant ceramic phase, thereby transforming the green body into the ceramic body.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2010Publication date: February 2, 2012Applicant: Corning IncorporatedInventors: Gregg William Crume, Robert John Locker, Earl James Sanford
-
Patent number: 8056401Abstract: In-line systems for and methods of measuring the moisture content of ceramic material within an extrusion system used to form ceramic articles are disclosed. One method includes arranging, relative to the extrusion system, at least one radio-frequency (RF) sensor system having an RF antenna, and generating through the RF antenna an RF field that resides substantially entirely within the ceramic material. The method also includes, in response to the RF field interacting with the ceramic material, generating in the RF sensor system a signal representative of a raw moisture-content measurement of the ceramic material. The method also includes generating calibration data by performing RF moisture-content measurements on samples of the ceramic material having different known moisture contents, and establishing a calibrated moisture-content measurement using the raw moisture-content signal and the calibration data. Both contact and non-contact systems and measurement methods are described.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2009Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Assignee: Corning IncorporatedInventors: David Dasher, Robert John Locker, James Monroe Marlowe
-
Publication number: 20110006461Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for measuring in real-time the moisture content of a ceramic-forming batch material to be extruded to form a ceramic article. The system includes a moisture-content-measurement (MCM) system that measures optical absorbance. Material-specific batch calibration samples can be used to calibrate optical absorption measurements to accurate moisture-content measurements. Because the surface of the batch material tends to dry during the extrusion process, a batch-material-removal (BMR) device is used to remove or displace batch surface material so that the moisture content of the underlying batch material can be measured.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2009Publication date: January 13, 2011Inventors: David Dasher, Robert John Locker, James Monroe Marlowe, JR.
-
Publication number: 20100303945Abstract: A plate suitable for positioning with an extruder apparatus is provided in which the plate includes at least one temperature sensor. The plate is upstream of the die located at or near the end of the extruder apparatus. The sensor(s) allow for the simultaneous measurement of batch material temperatures at multiple spatial locations across the face of the plate. The temperature sensors associated with the plate can be used to identify spatial and temporal temperature patterns within the batch flow.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2010Publication date: December 2, 2010Inventors: Joseph H. Citriniti, Gregory Eisenstock, Robert John Locker