Patents by Inventor Robert T. Johnston

Robert T. Johnston 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: 9951219
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an oil-extended olefin block copolymer composition. The oil-extended olefin block copolymer composition includes an olefin block copolymer, an oil, and a surface-active agent and may optionally include an olefin-based polymer. The oil-extended olefin block copolymer composition advantageously exhibits reduced, or no, oil-bleed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Robert T. Johnston, Wenbin Liang, Ashish Batra
  • Publication number: 20170321053
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an oil-extended olefin block copolymer composition. The oil-extended olefin block copolymer composition includes an olefin block copolymer, an oil, and a surface-active agent and may optionally include an olefin-based polymer. The oil- extended olefin block copolymer composition advantageously exhibits reduced, or no, oil-bleed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2017
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: Robert T. Johnston, Wenbin Liang, Ashish Batra
  • Patent number: 9745463
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an oil-extended olefin block copolymer composition. The oil-extended olefin block copolymer composition includes an olefin block copolymer, an oil, and a surface-active agent and may optionally include an olefin-based polymer. The oil-extended olefin block copolymer composition advantageously exhibits reduced, or no, oil-bleed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Robert T. Johnston, Wenbin Liang, Ashish Batra
  • Patent number: 9593237
    Abstract: Disclosed are oil-extended olefin block copolymer compositions with low, or no, tack. A unique comonomer content in the soft segment of the OBC in conjunction with the presence of a polyolefin provides the present oil-extended OBC composition with softness, low (or no) tack, and low (or no) oil-bleed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Ashish Batra, Dana R. Breed, Pradeep Jain, Jose M. Rego, Robert T. Johnston, Alec Y. Wang, Jeffrey C. Munro
  • Publication number: 20150368454
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an oil-extended olefin block copolymer composition. The oil-extended olefin block copolymer composition includes an olefin block copolymer, an oil, and a surface-active agent and may optionally include an olefin-based polymer. The oil-extended olefin block copolymer composition advantageously exhibits reduced, or no, oil-bleed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Robert T. Johnston, Wenbin Liang, Ashish Batra
  • Publication number: 20150259524
    Abstract: Disclosed are oil-extended olefin block copolymer compositions with low, or no, tack. A unique comonomer content in the soft segment of the OBC in conjunction with the presence of a polyolefin provides the present oil-extended OBC composition with softness, low (or no) tack, and low (or no) oil-bleed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventors: Ashish Batra, Dana R. Breed, Pradeep Jain, Jose M. Rego, Robert T. Johnston, Alec Y. Wang, Jeffrey C. Munro
  • Patent number: 9116055
    Abstract: A combustion turbine flashback sensing system with a sensor cable that includes an optical fiber having at least one and preferably multiple fiber Bragg grating (FBG) temperature sensors along the fiber. The sensor cable is oriented in a combustor turbine upstream a combustion zone, so that it is capable of sensing temperature at multiple sensing points within the combustor. A protective conduit having a first thermal conductivity circumscribes the optical fiber. A sensor shield is oriented in circumferential proximity to the FBG temperature sensor. It is preferable that each such sensor has an associated sensor shield. The sensor shield has a thermal conductivity greater than the conduit thermal conductivity. The sensor shield facilitates FBG sensor rapid thermal response, with sufficient thermal and mechanical shielding to isolate the sensor from harsh operating conditions within the combustor, while the less thermally conductive conduit provides greater isolation protection for the cable structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc
    Inventor: Robert T. Johnston
  • Patent number: 9040616
    Abstract: Disclosed are oil-extended olefin block copolymer compositions with microcrystalline wax. The microcrystalline wax reduces oil-bleed while maintaining composition softness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Robert T. Johnston, Ashish Batra, Wenbin Liang
  • Patent number: 9034972
    Abstract: Disclosed are oil-extended olefin block copolymer compositions with precipitated silica. The precipitated silica reduces oil-bleed while maintaining composition softness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Robert T. Johnston, Ashish Batra, Raymond L. Laakso, Jr., Wenbin Liang
  • Patent number: 8790074
    Abstract: An optical fiber wear detector that includes one or more FBG sensors positioned within the fiber that are operable to reflect a defined wavelength of an optical input beam. The wear detector includes a light source for generating the optical input beam that propagates down the optical fiber and interacts with the FBG sensor. The wavelength of the optical beam that is reflected by the FBG sensor is detected, where loss of the reflected signal indicates that the fiber before the FBG sensor or the FBG sensor itself is damaged, which would most likely be an indication of wear on the component. The depth of wear can be determined by providing multiple FBG sensors in a single optical fiber and/or providing multiple optical fibers with one or more FBG sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert T. Johnston
  • Publication number: 20140064332
    Abstract: A combustion turbine flashback sensing system with a sensor cable that includes an optical fiber having at least one and preferably multiple fiber Bragg grating (FBG) temperature sensors along the fiber. The sensor cable is oriented in a combustor turbine upstream a combustion zone, so that it is capable of sensing temperature at multiple sensing points within the combustor. A protective conduit having a first thermal conductivity circumscribes the optical fiber. A sensor shield is oriented in circumferential proximity to the FBG temperature sensor. It is preferable that each such sensor has an associated sensor shield. The sensor shield has a thermal conductivity greater than the conduit thermal conductivity. The sensor shield facilitates FBG sensor rapid thermal response, with sufficient thermal and mechanical shielding to isolate the sensor from harsh operating conditions within the combustor, while the less thermally conductive conduit provides greater isolation protection for the cable structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventor: Robert T. Johnston
  • Patent number: 8664585
    Abstract: A sensor apparatus is provided for detecting and monitoring a crack propagating through a structure. The sensor apparatus comprises: light source apparatus; detector structure; and a plurality of optical fibers having proximal and distal ends. The fibers may be spaced apart from one another and associated with the structure such that as a crack propagates through the structure, one or more of the optical fibers is broken by the crack. The optical fibers may receive light at the fiber proximal ends and the optical fibers may have a coating on the fiber distal ends capable of causing light to be returned toward the fiber proximal ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert T. Johnston
  • Patent number: 8576392
    Abstract: An optical fiber crack detector that includes a plurality of FBG sensors positioned within one or more fibers that are operable to reflect a defined wavelength of an optical input beam. The crack detector includes a light source for generating the optical input beam that propagates down the optical fiber and interacts with the FBG sensors. A wavelength of the optical beam that is reflected by the FBG sensors is detected, and if a crack in the component damages the fiber between an FBG sensor and the detector circuit, where one or more of the reflected signals are not received, the detector knows that a crack has occurred. By strategically placing a plurality of the FBG sensors along the fiber, a crack that damages the fiber in multiple locations between multiple FBG sensors, or in multiple fibers, can provide an indication of the length of the crack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert T. Johnston
  • Patent number: 8571813
    Abstract: One or more optical fibers (20, 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D), each with a second end (21) with a phosphor (26) disposed in a substrate (32) at a given depth (Dn) below a wear surface (34). A first photonic energy (52) is injected into a first end (19) of the optical fibers. The phosphor (26) emits a second photonic energy (54) into the fiber in response to the first photonic energy (52) incident on the phosphor from the fiber. When wear removes the phosphor (26) from one or more fibers, a detector (48, 49) detects a proportional reduction of the second photonic energy, indicating that wear has reached the given depth. A band-pass optical filter (46) may block wavelengths of the first photonic energy (52) from reflecting into the detector. The substrate temperature may be determined using a temperature-dependent emission of the phosphor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert T. Johnston
  • Publication number: 20130281613
    Abstract: Disclosed are oil-extended olefin block copolymer compositions with microcrystalline wax. The microcrystalline wax reduces oil-bleed while maintaining composition softness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: Robert T. Johnston, Ashish Batra, Wenbin Liang
  • Patent number: 8563658
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide block composites and their use in thermoplastic vulcanizate compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kim L. Walton, Brian W. Walther, Robert T. Johnston, Jose M. Rego, Xiaosong (Sharon) Wu
  • Publication number: 20130274403
    Abstract: Disclosed are oil-extended olefin block copolymer compositions with precipitated silica. The precipitated silica reduces oil-bleed while maintaining composition softness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Robert T. Johnston, Ashish Batra, Raymond L. Laakso, JR., Wenbin Liang
  • Patent number: 8476366
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide block composites and their use in thermoplastic vulcanizate compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Kim L. Walton, Brian W. Walther, Robert T. Johnston, Jose M. Rego, Xiaosong Wu
  • Publication number: 20120208962
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide block composites and their use in thermoplastic vulcanizate compounds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Kim L. Walton, Brian W. Walther, Robert T. Johnston, Jose M. Rego, Xiaosong Sharon Wu
  • Publication number: 20120198849
    Abstract: An optical fiber crack detector that includes a plurality of FBG sensors positioned within one or more fibers that are operable to reflect a defined wavelength of an optical input beam. The crack detector includes a light source for generating the optical input beam that propagates down the optical fiber and interacts with the FBG sensors. A wavelength of the optical beam that is reflected by the FBG sensors is detected, and if a crack in the component damages the fiber between an FBG sensor and the detector circuit, where one or more of the reflected signals are not received, the detector knows that a crack has occurred. By strategically placing a plurality of the FBG sensors along the fiber, a crack that damages the fiber in multiple locations between multiple FBG sensors, or in multiple fibers, can provide an indication of the length of the crack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Inventor: Robert T. Johnston