Patents by Inventor Sunilkumar Pillai

Sunilkumar Pillai 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).

  • Publication number: 20070152364
    Abstract: A method is provided for extruding and curing a highly porous substrate. More particularly, the present invention enables fibers, such as organic, inorganic, glass, ceramic, polymer, or metal fibers, to be mixed and extruded to form a highly porous substrate. Depending on the particular mixture, the present invention enables substrate porosities of about 60% to about 90%, and enables process advantages at other porosities, as well. The extrudable mixture may use a wide variety of fibers and additives, and is adaptable to a wide variety of operating environments and applications. Fibers, which have an aspect ratio greater than 1, are selected according to substrate requirements, and are mixed with binders, pore-formers, extrusion aids, and fluid to form a homogeneous extrudable mass. The homogeneous mass is extruded into a green substrate. The more volatile material is preferentially removed from the green substrate, which allows the fibers to interconnect and contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Inventors: Bilal Zuberi, Robert Lachenauer, Sunilkumar Pillai
  • Publication number: 20070110645
    Abstract: A method is provided for producing a highly porous substrate. More particularly, the present invention enables fibers, such as organic, inorganic, glass, ceramic, polymer, or metal fibers, to be combined with binders and additives, and extruded, to form a porous substrate. Depending on the selection of the constituents used to form an extrudable mixture, the present invention enables substrate porosities of about 60% to about 90%, and enables process advantages at other porosities, as well. The extrudable mixture may use a wide variety of fibers and additives, and is adaptable to a wide variety of operating environments and applications. Additives can be selected that form inorganic bonds between overlapping fibers in the extruded substrate that provide enhanced strength and performance of the porous substrate in a variety of applications, such as, for example, filtration and as a host for catalytic processes, such as catalytic converters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Inventors: Bilal Zuberi, Robert Lachenauer, Sunilkumar Pillai, William Carty
  • Publication number: 20070111878
    Abstract: An extrudable mixture is provided for producing a highly porous substrate using an extrusion process. More particularly, the present invention enables fibers, such as organic, inorganic, glass, ceramic or metal fibers, to be mixed into a mass that when extruded and cured, forms a highly porous substrate. Depending on the particular mixture, the present invention enables substrate porosities of about 60% to about 90%, and enables process advantages at other porosities, as well. The extrudable mixture may use a wide variety of fibers and additives, and is adaptable to a wide variety of operating environments and applications. Fibers, which have an aspect ratio greater than 1, are selected according to substrate requirements, and are mixed with binders, pore-formers, extrusion aids, and fluid to form a homogeneous extrudable mass. The homogeneous mass is extruded into a green substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Inventors: Bilal Zuberi, Robert Lachenauer, Sunilkumar Pillai
  • Publication number: 20070107395
    Abstract: A highly porous substrate is provided using an extrusion system. More particularly, the present invention enables the production of a highly porous substrate. Depending on the particular mixture, the present invention enables substrate porosities of about 60% to about 90%, and enables advantages at other porosities, as well. The extrusion system enables the use of a wide variety of fibers and additives, and is adaptable to a wide variety of operating environments and applications. Fibers, which have an aspect ratio greater than 1, are selected according to substrate requirements, and are typically mixed with binders, pore-formers, extrusion aids, and fluid to form a homogeneous extrudable mass. The homogeneous mass is extruded into a green substrate. The more volatile material is preferentially removed from the green substrate, which allows the fibers to form interconnected networks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Inventors: Bilal Zuberi, Robert Lachenauer, Sunilkumar Pillai