Patents by Inventor Robert R. McDonald

Robert R. McDonald 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: 9120684
    Abstract: A water purifier includes a chamber having a perimetric wall, a bottom wall at a first end, and an opening at a second, opposed end. A collection pipe extends along the bottom wall. A siphon pipe fluidly coupled with the collection pipe extends along the perimetric wall away from the bottom wall. An exit pipe fluidly coupled with the siphon pipe extends through a perimetric wall discharge opening. A layer of granular material in the chamber contains and sustains a biological layer of microorganisms for reducing water-borne pathogenic microorganisms. An inorganic anti-microbial disinfectant source is incorporated into a portion of the granular material. The granular material and biological layer provide progressive biochemical remediation of pathogenic microorganisms. The inorganic disinfectant source provides progressive chemical and biochemical remediation of pathogenic microorganisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Inventors: Robert R. McDonald, William O. Jones, Michael Pikaart
  • Publication number: 20120175310
    Abstract: A water purification reactor comprises a containment vessel holding a water purification medium and a disinfectant, and a discharge assembly. The containment vessel has a perimetric wall with a discharge opening therethrough, a first end having a bottom wall, and a second opposed end defining an opening. The perimetric wall and the bottom wall define a chamber. The discharge assembly comprises a collection pipe extending along the bottom wall, a siphon pipe fluidly coupled with the collection pipe and extending upwardly along the perimetric wall, and an exit pipe fluidly coupled with the siphon pipe and extending through the discharge opening. The water purification medium comprises at least one layer of granular material contained within the chamber. The disinfectant has anti-microbial properties and is incorporated into a portion of the water purification medium. The water purification medium and disinfectant are adapted for progressive chemical and biochemical remediation water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2008
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: AQUA CLARA FOUNDATION INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Robert R. McDonald, William O. Jones, Michael Pikaart
  • Patent number: 6613266
    Abstract: Described are molds, dies and forming tools comprising: a) a heat exchanging body support member; and b) within the support member, a molding cavity portion formed by thermal spraying metallic particles to a desired configuration in the support member. Also described are methods of making a mold, die or forming tool comprising the steps of: a) providing a body support member having a controlled and designed porosity which permits the enhancement of the heat transfer ability of said mold, die or forming tool; b) configuring a surface of the support member to a desired cavity; and c) spraying particles to the configured cavity in the support member, thereby producing a mold, die or forming tool. Preferably, the materials of construction are metallic and are applied by thermal plasma spraying. The particles may also be ceramics, metal matrix composites, ceramic matrix composites, thermoplastic resins, thermoset resins, and composites based thereupon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Metallamics
    Inventor: Robert R. McDonald
  • Publication number: 20030127775
    Abstract: Described are molds, dies and forming tools comprising: a) a heat exchanging body support member; and b) within the support member, a molding cavity portion formed by thermal spraying metallic particles to a desired configuration in the support member. Also described are methods of making a mold, die or forming tool comprising the steps of: a) providing a body support member having a controlled and designed porosity which permits the enhancement of the heat transfer ability of said mold, die or forming tool; b) configuring a surface of the support member to a desired cavity; and c) spraying particles to the configured cavity in the support member, thereby producing a mold, die or forming tool. Preferably, the materials of construction are metallic and are applied by thermal plasma spraying. The particles may also be ceramics, metal matrix composites, ceramic matrix composites, thermoplastic resins, thermoset resins, and composites based thereupon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 1998
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Inventor: ROBERT R. MCDONALD
  • Publication number: 20020187217
    Abstract: An injection molding cooling core 10 comprises an elongated, hollow core pin 15 having an inner surface 16 and an outer surface 17. The core pin 15 is open at one end, and has an end cap 18 at an opposite end. The core 10 also has an elongated, hollow insert 20 having an inside surface 21 and an outside surface 22. The insert 20 has a plurality of protrusions 25 on the outside surface 22, which extend radially outwardly from the insert 20. The insert 20 is designed to fit within the core pin 15 whereby the protrusions 25 contact the inner surface 16 of the core pin 15. The protrusions 25 are metallurgically joined to the core pin 15 whereby there is a continuous metallurgical path for heat transfer between the outer surface 17 of the core pin 15 and the insert 20. The protrusions 25 also provide strength to the core pin 15 and a greatly enhanced heat transfer surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Inventors: Robert R. McDonald, William O. Jones
  • Publication number: 20020025270
    Abstract: A method of making a heat-exchanging forming tool for use in shaping articles of manufacture, said method comprising the steps of:
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Publication date: February 28, 2002
    Inventors: Robert R. McDonald, William O. Jones
  • Patent number: 5983675
    Abstract: A material handling apparatus for processing heated formed ferrous metal products and/or glass products made of a face centered cubic crystal intermetallic alloy of a metal aluminide having the property of withstanding repeated thermal cycling from ambient temperature to about 1600.degree. F. wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of a group VIII metal of the Periodic Table. Also described is an aluminide roll that also is characterized as retaining its ultimate tensile strength at 1600.degree. F. of at least 75% of the tensile strength the roll had at ambient room temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Metallamics
    Inventor: Robert R. McDonald
  • Patent number: 5832981
    Abstract: A one-piece cast metal heat-exchanging forming tool is prepared using an expendable porous preform that is cast in place within a cast metal forming tool. The expendable preform is thereafter extracted to leave behind a network of inter-connected pores and passages within the body of the tool through which a heat transferring fluid may be circulated to transfer heat to or from a substantially non-porous contoured shaping surface of the tool. Fluid distribution/collection lines and vacuum lines may be incorporated in the tool during casting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Metallamics, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert R. McDonald, William O. Jones
  • Patent number: 5824166
    Abstract: Described is a material handling apparatus for processing heated formed ferrous metal products and/or glass products comprising a face centered cubic crystal intermetallic alloy of a metal aluminide having the property of withstanding repeated thermal cycling from ambient temperature to about 1600.degree. F. wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of a group VIII metal of the Periodic Table. Also described is an aluminide roll that also is characterized as retaining its ultimate tensile strength at 1600.degree. F. of at least 75% of the tensile strength the roll had at ambient room temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Metallamics
    Inventor: Robert R. McDonald
  • Patent number: 5783259
    Abstract: Described are molds, dies and forming tools comprising: a) a heat exchanging body support member; and b) within the support member, a molding cavity portion formed by thermal spraying metallic particles to a desired configuration in the support member. Also described are methods of making a mold, die or forming tool comprising the steps of: a) providing a body support member having a controlled and designed porosity which permits the enhancement of the heat transfer ability of said mold, die or forming tool; b) configuring a surface of the support member to a desired cavity; and c) spraying particles to the configured cavity in the support member, thereby producing a mold, die or forming tool. Preferably, the materials of construction are metallic and are applied by thermal plasma spraying. The particles may also be ceramics, metal matrix composites, ceramic matrix composites, thermoplastic resins, thermoset resins, and composites based thereupon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Metallamics, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert R. McDonald
  • Patent number: 5746966
    Abstract: Described are molds, dies and forming tools comprising: a) a heat exchanging body support member; and b) within the support member, a molding cavity portion formed by thermal spraying metallic particles to a desired configuration in the support member. Also described are methods of making a mold, die or forming tool comprising the steps of: a) providing a body support member having a controlled and designed porosity which permits the enhancement of the heat transfer ability of said mold, die or forming tool; b) configuring a surface of the support member to a desired cavity; and c) spraying particles to the configured cavity in the support member, thereby producing a mold, die or forming tool. Preferably, the materials of construction are metallic and are applied by thermal plasma spraying. The particles may also be ceramics, metal matrix composites, ceramic matrix composites, thermoplastic resins, thermoset resins, and composites based thereupon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Metallamics, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert R. McDonald
  • Patent number: 5609922
    Abstract: Described are molds, dies and forming tools comprising: a) a heat exchanging body support member; and b) within the support member, a molding cavity portion formed by thermal spraying metallic particles to a desired configuration in the support member. Also described are methods of making a mold, die or forming tool comprising the steps of: a) providing a body support member having a controlled and designed porosity which permits the enhancement of the heat transfer ability of said mold, die or forming tool; b) configuring a surface of the support member to a desired cavity; and c) spraying particles to the configured cavity in the support member, thereby producing a mold, die or forming tool. Preferably, the materials of construction are metallic and are applied by thermal plasma spraying. The particles may also be ceramics, metal matrix composites, ceramic matrix composites, thermoplastic resins, thermoset resins, and composites based thereupon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Inventor: Robert R. McDonald
  • Patent number: 5143540
    Abstract: Substantially dense, void-free ceramic-metal composites are prepared from components characterized by chemical incompatibility and non-wetting behavior. The composites have a final chemistry similar to the starting chemistry and microstructures characterized by ceamic grains similar in size to the starting powder and the presence of metal phase. A method for producing the composites requires forming a homogeneous mixture of ceramic-metal, heating the mixture to a temperature that approximates but is below the temperature at which the metal begins to flow and pressing the mixture at such pressure that compaction and densification of the mixture occurs and an induced temperature spike occurs that exceeds the flowing temperature of the metal such that the mixture is further compacted and densified. The temperature spike and duration thereof remains below that at which significant reaction between metal and ceramic occurs. The method requires pressures of 60-250 kpsi employed at a rate of 5-250 kpsi/second.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Aleksander J. Pyzik, Irving G. Snyder, Jr., Robert R. McDonald, Alexander Pecnenik
  • Patent number: 5015290
    Abstract: An improved ceramic-metal composite comprising a mixture of a ceramic material with a ductile intermetallic alloy, preferably Ni.sub.3 Al.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Terry N. Tiegs, Robert R. McDonald
  • Patent number: 4961778
    Abstract: Substantially dense, void-free ceramic-metal composites are prepared from components characterized by chemical incompatibility and non-wetting behavior. The composites have a final chemistry similar to the starting chemistry and microstructures characterized by ceramic grains similar in size to the starting powder and the presence of metal phase. A method for producing the composites requires forming a homogeneous mixture of ceramic-metal, heating the mixture to a temperature that approximates but is below the temperature at which the metal begins to flow and presssing the mixture at such pressure that compaction and densification of the mixture occurs and an induced temperature spike occurs that exceeds the flowing temperature of the metal such that the mixture is further compacted and densified. The temperature spike and duration thereof remains below that at which significant reaction between metal and ceramic occurs. The method requires pressure of 60-250 kpsi employed at a rate of 5-250 kpsi/second.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1990
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Aleksander J. Pyzik, Irving G. Snyder, Jr., Alexander Pechenik, Robert R. McDonald
  • Patent number: 4919718
    Abstract: An improved ceramic-metal composite comprising a mixture of a ceramic material with a ductile intermetallic alloy, preferably Ni.sub.3 Al.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1990
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Terry N. Tiegs, Robert R. McDonald