Patents by Inventor Thomas C. Quinby

Thomas C. Quinby 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: 4800183
    Abstract: A process for making fine, uniform metal nitride powders that can be hot pressed or sintered. A metal salt is placed in a solvent with Melamine and warmed until a metal-Melamine compound forms. The solution is cooled and the metal-Melamine precipitate is calcined at a temperature below 700.degree. C. to form the metal nitrides and to avoid formation of the metal oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 24, 1989
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Thomas C. Quinby
  • Patent number: 4537818
    Abstract: A method for the preparation of thin, free-standing metal oxide films which are useful as nuclear accelerator target materials. Cations of any metal except those of Group IA and precious metals, such as, U, Zr, Nd, Ce, Th, pr or Cr, are absorbed on a thin film of polymeric material, such as, carboxymethylcellulose, viscose rayon or cellophane. The cation impregnated polymeric material is dried. Then the impregnated film is heated in an inert atmosphere to form a carbonized membrane. The carbonized membrane is oxidized to yield a thin, self-supporting, metal oxide membrane. Or, the membrane can be heated in an inert atmosphere to yield a thin, self-supporting, metal carbide-containing membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1985
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Thomas C. Quinby
  • Patent number: 4383855
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for making a wide variety of general-purpose cermets and for radioactive waste disposal from ceramic powders prepared from urea-dispersed solutions containing various metal values. The powders are formed into a compact and subjected to a rapid temperature increase in a reducing atmosphere. During this reduction, one or more of the more readily reducible oxides in the compact is reduced to a selected substoichiometric state at a temperature below the eutectic phase for that particular oxide or oxides and then raised to a temperature greater than the eutectic temperature to provide a liquid phase in the compact prior to the reduction of the liquid phase forming oxide to solid metal. This liquid phase forms at a temperature below the melting temperature of the metal and bonds together the remaining particulates in the cermet to form a solid polycrystalline cermet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1983
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: W. Scott Aaron, Donald L. Kinser, Thomas C. Quinby
  • Patent number: 4231507
    Abstract: This invention is a tool for effecting high-temperature, high-compression bonding between the confronting faces of nested, tubular, metallic components. In a typical application, the tool is used to produce tubular target assemblies for irradiation in nuclear reactors or particle accelerators, the target assembly comprising a uranium foil and an aluminum-alloy substrate. The tool preferably is composed throughout of graphite. It comprises a tubular restraining member in which a mechanically expandable tubular core is mounted to form an annulus with the member. The components to be bonded are mounted in nested relation in the annulus. The expandable core is formed of individually movable, axially elongated segments whose outer faces cooperatively define a cylindrical pressing surface and whose inner faces cooperatively define two opposed, inwardly tapered, axial bores. Tapered rams extend respectively into the bores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1980
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Thomas C. Quinby
  • Patent number: 4072501
    Abstract: Metal powders, metal oxide powders, and mixtures thereof of controlled particle size are provided by reacting an aqueous solution containing dissolved metal values with excess urea. Upon heating, urea reacts with water from the solution leaving a molten urea solution containing the metal values. The molten urea solution is heated to above about 180.degree. C. whereupon metal values precipitate homogeneously as a powder. The powder is reduced to metal or calcined to form oxide particles. One or more metal oxides in a mixture can be selectively reduced to produce metal particles or a mixture of metal and metal oxide particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1978
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Thomas C. Quinby
  • Patent number: 3971944
    Abstract: A method of measuring neutron radiation within a nuclear reactor is provided. A sintered oxide wire is disposed within the reactor and exposed to neutron radiation. The induced radioactivity is measured to provide an indication of the neutron energy and flux within the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1976
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Energy Research and Development Administration
    Inventor: Thomas C. Quinby
  • Patent number: 3955093
    Abstract: A target for preparation of radioisotopes by nuclear bombardment, and a method for its assembly are provided. A metallic sample to be bombarded is enclosed within a metallic support structure and the resulting target subjected to heat and pressure to effect diffusion bonds therebetween. The bonded target is capable of withstanding prolonged exposure to nuclear bombardment without thermal damage to the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1976
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Energy Research and Development Administration
    Inventor: Thomas C. Quinby