Patents by Inventor Robert L. Howe

Robert L. Howe 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: 6897282
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of forming a polyphenylene ether resin containing residual aliphatic unsaturation. A polyphenylene ether is reacted with a capping agent in a solvent to form the polyphenylene ether resin containing residual aliphatic unsaturation, which is precipitated from solution by combining the solution with an antisolvent. The precipitated polyphenylene ether resin containing residual aliphatic unsaturation has lower levels of residual impurities than the same compound isolated by devolatilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric
    Inventors: Amy Freshour, Hua Guo, Robert L. Howe, Edward N. Peters, Gary William Yeager
  • Publication number: 20040102583
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of forming a polyphenylene ether resin containing residual aliphatic unsaturation. A polyphenylene ether is reacted with a capping agent in a solvent to form the polyphenylene ether resin containing residual aliphatic unsaturation, which is precipitated from solution by combining the solution with an antisolvent. The precipitated polyphenylene ether resin containing residual aliphatic unsaturation has lower levels of residual impurities than the same compound isolated by devolatilization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Inventors: Amy Freshour, Hua Guo, Robert L. Howe, Edward N. Peters, Gary William Yeager
  • Patent number: 6469072
    Abstract: A method for dispersing solid forms of additives in polymers involves adding dispersions or solutions of additive(s) to a solution of polymer in a tubular mixer (preferably in the presence of a stationary mixer). The mixer leads to a steam precipitation step wherein all fluid ingredients in the mixture are volatilized leaving the solid additive and resin in the desired ratio. This results in a uniform dispersion of the additives in the polymer matrix. As a result of the high dispersion, physical properties of a thermoplastic resin, to which the polymer matrix has been added are preserved. In one illustration, PTFE as a drip inhibitor additive, is added to polycarbonate to obtain a highly dispersed PTFE concentrate of improved-drip-inhibition without loss of mechanical properties when added to a thermoplastic molding resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Qamar S. Bhatia, Paul Buckley, Gary Davis, Robert L. Howe, Wie-Hin Pan, Elliott Shanklin
  • Patent number: 6160038
    Abstract: A method for dispersing solid forms of additives in polymers involves adding dispersions or solutions of additive(s) to a solution of polymer in a tubular mixer (preferably in the presence of a stationary mixer). The mixer leads to a steam precipitation step wherein all fluid ingredients in the mixture are volatilized leaving the solid additive and resin in the desired ratio. This results in a uniform dispersion of the additives in the polymer matrix. As a result of the high dispersion, physical properties of a thermoplastic resin, to which the polymer matrix has been added are preserved. In one illustration, PTFE as a drip inhibitor additive, is added to polycarbonate to obtain a highly dispersed PTFE concentrate of improved drip-inhibition without loss of mechanical properties when added to a thermoplastic molding resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Qamar S. Bhatia, Paul Buckley, Gary Davis, Robert L. Howe, Wie-Hin Pan, Elliott Shanklin
  • Patent number: 6005025
    Abstract: A method for dispersing solid forms of additives in polymers involves adding dispersions or solutions of additive(s) to a solution of polymer in a tubular mixer (preferably in the presence of a stationary mixer). The mixer leads to a steam precipitation step wherein all fluid ingredients in the mixture are volatilized leaving the solid additive and resin in the desired ratio. This results in a uniform dispersion of the additives in the polymer matrix. As a result of the high dispersion, physical properties of a thermoplastic resin, to which the polymer matrix has been added are preserved. In one illustration, PTFE as a drip inhibitor additive, is added to polycarbonate to obtain a highly dispersed PTFE concentrate of improved drip-inhibition without loss of mechanical properties when added to a thermoplastic molding resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Qamar S. Bhatia, Paul Buckley, Gary Davis, Robert L. Howe, Wie-Hin Pan, Elliott Shanklin
  • Patent number: 5773493
    Abstract: A method for dispersing solid forms of additives in polymers involves adding dispersions or solutions of additive(s) to a solution of polymer in a tubular mixer (preferably in the presence of a stationary mixer). The mixer leads to a steam precipitation step wherein all fluid ingredients in the mixture are volatilized leaving the solid additive and resin in the desired ratio. This results in a uniform dispersion of the additives in the polymer matrix. As a result of the high dispersion, physical properties of a thermoplastic resin, to which the polymer matrix has been added are preserved. In one illustration, PTFE as a drip inhibitor additive, is added to polycarbonate to obtain a highly dispersed PTFE concentrate of improved drip-inhibition without loss of mechanical properties when added to a thermoplastic molding resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Qamar S. Bhatia, Paul Buckley, Gary Davis, Robert L. Howe, Wie-Hin Pan, Elliott Shanklin
  • Patent number: 5521230
    Abstract: A method for dispersing solid forms of additives in polymers involves adding dispersions or solutions of additive(s) to a solution of polymer in a tubular mixer (preferably in the presence of a stationary mixer). The mixer leads to a steam precipitation step wherein all fluid ingredients in the mixture are volatilized leaving the solid additive and resin in the desired ratio. This results in a uniform dispersion of the additives in the polymer matrix. As a result of the high dispersion, physical properties of a thermoplastic resin, to which the polymer matrix has been added are preserved. In one illustration, PTFE as a drip inhibitor additive, is added to polycarbonate to obtain a highly dispersed PTFE concentrate of improved drip-inhibition without loss of mechanical properties when added to a thermoplastic molding resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Qamar S. Bhatia, Paul Buckley, Gary Davis, Robert L. Howe, Wie-Hin Pan, Elliott Shanklin
  • Patent number: 4797834
    Abstract: An apparatus and method controls a dual piston pump for a liquid chromatography system so as to pump a flow of solvent through the liquid chromatography column at a constant flow rate and with a solvent composition which is substantially equal to the desired solvent composition despite changing conditions of compressibility of the solvent. A computer is used which measures the time it takes the pump shaft to move through an overlap region in the pump cycle when both pistons are simultaneously pumping as normalized to the time taken by the pump to move through a constant velocity portion of the piston travel defined by the user. This time is compared to the time stored in the computer for the particular flow rate used to measure the time defined above for the pump to move through the overlap region for an incompressible solvent at low pressure as normalized to the time taken by the input piston to move through the same user defined segment of the constant velocity portion of the travel of the input piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1989
    Inventors: Ronald E. Honganen, Robert L. Howe, Leslie A. Miller
  • Patent number: 4797207
    Abstract: There is disclosed herein an apparatus and method for controlling a dual piston pump for a liquid chromatography system so as to pump a flow of solvent through the liquid chromatography column at a constant flow rate and with a solvent composition which is substantially equal to the desired solvent composition despite changing conditions of compressibility of the solvent. The control system uses a computer which measures the time it takes the pump shaft to move through an overlap region in the pump cycle when both pistons are simultaneously pumping as normalized to the time taken by the pump to move through a constant velocity portion of the piston travel defined by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1989
    Assignee: Spectra Physics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald E. Honganen, Robert L. Howe, Leslie A. Miller
  • Patent number: 4420679
    Abstract: A temperature controlled oven apparatus having a central chamber with a heater element and a pivotal inner baffle door, located within a removable outer access door, periodically opened or closed to regulate the exhaust of oven air and the admission of ambient air into the oven through a preheated plenum chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1983
    Assignee: Delta Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert L. Howe