Patents by Inventor Thomas D. Ketcham
Thomas D. Ketcham 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).
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Patent number: 10421681Abstract: Isopipes (13) for making glass sheets using a fusion process are provided. The isopipes are made from alumina materials which have low levels of the elements of group IVB of the periodic chart, i.e., Ti, Zr, and Hf, as well as low levels of Sn. In this way, the alumina isopipes can be used with glasses that contain tin (e.g., as a fining agent or as the result of the use of tin electrodes for electrical heating of molten glass) without generating unacceptable levels of tin-containing defects in the glass sheets, specifically, at the sheets' fusion lines. The alumina isopipes disclosed herein are especially beneficial when used with tin-containing glasses that exhibit low tin solubility, e.g., glasses that have (RO+R2O)/Al2O3 ratios between 0.9 and 1.1, where, in mole percent on an oxide basis, (RO+R2O) is the sum of the concentrations of the glass' alkaline earth and alkali metal oxides and Al2O3 is the glass' alumina concentration.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2011Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignee: Corning IncorporatedInventors: Matthew J. Dejneka, Benjamin Z. Hanson, Thomas D. Ketcham
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Patent number: 9199868Abstract: Isopipes (13) for making a glass or a glass-ceramic using a fusion process are provided. The isopipes are made from an alumina material which has a higher static fatigue than existing alumina materials intended for use as isopipes. In particular, the alumina materials have times-to-failure (static fatigues) of greater than one hour at 1200° C. at an applied stress of 10,000 psi. These high levels of static fatigue allow alumina isopipes to replace zircon isopipes in the manufacture of high performance glass sheets by the fusion process, including glass sheets which are incompatible with zircon isopipes but compatible with alumina isopipes, e.g., chip and scratch resistant glass sheets which have high alkali contents.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2011Date of Patent: December 1, 2015Assignee: Corning IncorporatedInventors: Thomas D. Ketcham, Joseph J. McIntosh, Steven M. Milillo, Eunyoung Park
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Patent number: 8685589Abstract: A fuel cell and method for manufacturing the fuel cell are described herein. Basically, the fuel cell is formed from an electrode/electrolyte structure including an array of anode electrodes and cathode electrodes disposed on opposing sides of an electrolyte sheet, the anode and cathode electrodes being electrically connected in series, parallel, or a combination thereof by electrical conductors that traverse via holes in the electrolyte sheet. Several different embodiments of electrical conductors which have a specific composition and/or a specific geometry are described herein.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2008Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Corning IncorporatedInventors: Michael E Badding, Jacqueline L Brown, Thomas D Ketcham, Susan L Schiefelbein, Dell J St Julien, Raja R Wusirika
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Publication number: 20120180528Abstract: Isopipes (13) for making a glass or a glass-ceramic using a fusion process are provided. The isopipes are made from an alumina material which has a higher static fatigue than existing alumina materials intended for use as isopipes. In particular, the alumina materials have times-to-failure (static fatigues) of greater than one hour at 1200° C. at an applied stress of 10,000 psi. These high levels of static fatigue allow alumina isopipes to replace zircon isopipes in the manufacture of high performance glass sheets by the fusion process, including glass sheets which are incompatible with zircon isopipes but compatible with alumina isopipes, e.g., chip and scratch resistant glass sheets which have high alkali contents.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2011Publication date: July 19, 2012Inventors: Thomas D. Ketcham, Joseph J. McIntosh, Steven M. Milillo, Eunyoung Park
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Publication number: 20120006059Abstract: Isopipes (13) for making glass sheets using a fusion process are provided. The isopipes are made from alumina materials which have low levels of the elements of group IVB of the periodic chart, i.e., Ti, Zr, and Hf, as well as low levels of Sn. In this way, the alumina isopipes can be used with glasses that contain tin (e.g., as a fining agent or as the result of the use of tin electrodes for electrical heating of molten glass) without generating unacceptable levels of tin-containing defects in the glass sheets, specifically, at the sheets' fusion lines. The alumina isopipes disclosed herein are especially beneficial when used with tin-containing glasses that exhibit low tin solubility, e.g., glasses that have (RO+R2O)/Al2O3 ratios between 0.9 and 1.1, where, in mole percent on an oxide basis, (RO+R2O) is the sum of the concentrations of the glass' alkaline earth and alkali metal oxides and Al2O3 is the glass' alumina concentration.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2011Publication date: January 12, 2012Inventors: Matthew J. Dejneka, Benjamin Z. Hanson, Thomas D. Ketcham
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Patent number: 7947213Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention the fuel cell device includes an electrolyte sheet. The electrolyte sheet has a substantially non-porous body of a varied thickness, a relatively smooth surface and a more textured surface with multiple indentations therein, wherein the thickest part of the electrolyte sheet is at least 0.5 micrometers greater than the thinnest part of said electrolyte sheet. The side of the electrolyte sheet with a relatively smooth surface is subjected to the predominately tensile force and the other, more textured surface subjected to predominately compressive force. According to one embodiment, the fuel cell also includes one cathode disposed on the more textured side of said electrolyte sheet at least at least one anode disposed opposite the cathode on the relatively smooth side of aid electrolyte sheet. According to one embodiment, the relatively smooth side of the electrolyte sheet is the fuel facing side and the more textured side is the air-facing side.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2007Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Assignee: Corning IncorporatedInventors: Michael E. Badding, Jacqueline L. Brown, Sean M. Garner, Thomas D. Ketcham, Dell J. St. Julien
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Patent number: 7588856Abstract: An electrode structure for a low voltage, high current electrical production device includes a charge transfer member (612). An electrically conductive member (605) having a non-uniform resistance is disposed on the charge transfer member 612 for optimizing current coupling.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2004Date of Patent: September 15, 2009Assignee: Corning IncorporatedInventors: Thomas D. Ketcham, Cameron W. Tanner
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Patent number: 7531261Abstract: An electrolyte sheet comprises a body of a varied thickness. The electrolyte sheet has at least one non-porous surface. This non-porous surface is a textured surface with multiple indentations therein. The thickest part of the electrolyte sheet is at least 0.5 micrometers greater than the thinnest part of the sheet.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2003Date of Patent: May 12, 2009Assignee: Corning IncorporatedInventors: Michael E Badding, Jacqueline L Brown, Sean M Garner, Thomas D Ketcham, Dell J St Julien
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Patent number: 7494732Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention a fuel cell device comprises: a plurality of fuel cells, each of the plurality of fuel cells having an active area, wherein at least two of the plurality of fuel cells have differently sized active area, such that ratio of the active areas of these two fuel cells is at least 1.1:1.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2005Date of Patent: February 24, 2009Assignee: Corning IncorporatedInventors: Shantanu Roy, Thomas D Ketcham, Dell J St Julien, Jacqueline L Brown, Michael E Badding
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Publication number: 20080160376Abstract: A fuel cell and method for manufacturing the fuel cell are described herein. Basically, the fuel cell is formed from an electrode/electrolyte structure including an array of anode electrodes and cathode electrodes disposed on opposing sides of an electrolyte sheet, the anode and cathode electrodes being electrically connected in series, parallel, or a combination thereof by electrical conductors that traverse via holes in the electrolyte sheet. Several different embodiments of electrical conductors which have a specific composition and/or a specific geometry are described herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 12, 2008Publication date: July 3, 2008Inventors: Michael E. Badding, Jacqueline L. Brown, Thomas D. Ketcham, Susan L. Schiefelbein, Dell J. St. Julien, Raja R. Wusirika
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Patent number: 7378173Abstract: A fuel cell and method for manufacturing the fuel cell are described herein. Basically, the fuel cell is formed from an electrode/electrolyte structure including an array of anode electrodes and cathode electrodes disposed on opposing sides of an electrolyte sheet, the anode and cathode electrodes being electrically connected in series, parallel, or a combination thereof by electrical conductors that traverse via holes in the electrolyte sheet. Several different embodiments of electrical conductors which have a specific composition and/or a specific geometry are described herein.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2003Date of Patent: May 27, 2008Assignee: Corning IncorporatedInventors: Michael E Badding, Jacqueline L Brown, Thomas D Ketcham, Susan L Schiefelbein, Dell J St Julien, Raja R Wusirika
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Patent number: 7303833Abstract: An electrolyte sheet comprises a substantially non-porous body and has at least one stress-relief area on at least a portion of the electrolyte sheet. The stress-relief area has a surface with a plurality of smoothly domed cells.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2004Date of Patent: December 4, 2007Assignee: Corning IncorporatedInventors: Jeffrey E. Cortright, Thomas D. Ketcham
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Patent number: 6993936Abstract: A system and method for suppressing the formation of gaseous inclusions in glass sheets and the resulting glass sheets are described herein. The system includes a melting, fining, delivery, mixing or forming vessel that has a refractory metal component (e.g., platinum component) which has an inner wall that contacts molten glass and an outer wall coated with an oxygen ion transportable material (e.g., zirconia) which is coated with a conductive electrode. The system also includes a DC power source that supplies DC power across the oxygen ion transportable material which causes oxygen ions to migrate from the refractory metal component to the conductive electrode and enables one to control the partial pressure of oxygen around an exterior of the vessel which helps one to effectively prevent hydrogen permeation from the molten glass in order to suppress the formation of undesirable gaseous inclusions and surface blisters within the glass sheet.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2003Date of Patent: February 7, 2006Assignee: Corning IncorporatedInventors: Paul R. Grzesik, Thomas D. Ketcham, David M. Lineman, Randy D. Ziegenhagen
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Patent number: 6852436Abstract: The present invention relates to a fuel cell apparatus which includes arrays of positive air electrodes and negative fuel electrodes with via interconnections disposed on an electrolyte sheet; optional electrode designs include symmetric electrodes comprising a conductive silver alloy metal phase and a thermally stabilizing ceramic phase, the latter providing low interface resistance and matching thermal properties.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2002Date of Patent: February 8, 2005Assignee: Corning IncorporatedInventors: Michael E. Badding, Jacqueline L. Brown, Thomas D. Ketcham, Dell J. St. Julien, Raja R. Wusirika
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Publication number: 20040265664Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention the fuel cell device includes an electrolyte sheet. The electrolyte sheet has a substantially non-porous body of a varied thickness, a relatively smooth surface and a more textured surface with multiple indentations therein, wherein the thickest part of the electrolyte sheet is at least 0.5 micrometers greater than the thinnest part of said electrolyte sheet. The side of the electrolyte sheet with a relatively smooth surface is subjected to the predominately tensile force and the other, more textured surface subjected to predominately compressive force. According to one embodiment, the fuel cell also includes one cathode disposed on the more textured side of said electrolyte sheet at least at least one anode disposed opposite the cathode on the relatively smooth side of aid electrolyte sheet.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2003Publication date: December 30, 2004Inventors: Michael E. Badding, Jacqueline L. Brown, Sean M. Garner, Thomas D. Ketcham, Dell J.St. Julien
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Publication number: 20040265663Abstract: An electrolyte sheet comprises a body of a varied thickness. The electrolyte sheet has at least one non-porous surface. This non-porous surface is a textured surface with multiple indentations therein. The thickest part of the electrolyte sheet is at least 0.5 micrometers greater than the thinnest part of the sheet.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2003Publication date: December 30, 2004Inventors: Michael E. Badding, Jacqueline L. Brown, Sean M. Garner, Thomas D. Ketcham, Dell J. St. Julien
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Publication number: 20040028975Abstract: A fuel cell and method for manufacturing the fuel cell are described herein. Basically, the fuel cell is formed from an electrode/electrolyte structure including an array of anode electrodes and cathode electrodes disposed on opposing sides of an electrolyte sheet, the anode and cathode electrodes being electrically connected in series, parallel, or a combination thereof by electrical conductors that traverse via holes in the electrolyte sheet. Several different embodiments of electrical conductors which have a specific composition and/or a specific geometry are described herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2003Publication date: February 12, 2004Inventors: Michael E. Badding, Jacqueline L. Brown, Thomas D. Ketcham, Susan L. Schiefelbein, Dell J. St. Julien, Raja R. Wusirika
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Patent number: 6673414Abstract: A ceramic filter for trapping and combusting diesel exhaust particulates offering improved configurations that are significantly more resistant to thermal cracking and melting damage comprises a honeycomb filter body composed of porous ceramic material and including a plurality of parallel cell channels traversing the body from a frontal inlet end to an outlet end thereof, a portion of the cell channels are plugged in a non-checkered pattern, and the remaining cell channels are plugged in a checkered pattern. In one embodiment the honeycomb filter body has a section of non-checkered and a section of checkered plugging at the frontal inlet end. In another embodiment the honeycomb filter body has a plurality of cell channels internal plugs. In another embodiment the honeycomb filter body has a plurality of partial cell channels which extend partially from the frontal inlet end into the honeycomb filter body, and are unplugged at the frontal inlet end.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2001Date of Patent: January 6, 2004Assignee: Corning IncorporatedInventors: Thomas D. Ketcham, Dell J. St. Julien
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Patent number: 6630267Abstract: The present invention relates to electrode/electrolyte assemblies for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) comprising a thin electrolyte sheet interposed between opposite electrodes, and wherein the positive air electrode (cathode) and negative fuel electrode (anode) are composed of similar electronically conductive metal phases and stabilizing ceramic phases, and wherein the anode exhibits both good oxidation resistance and good catalytic activity toward fuel oxidation.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2001Date of Patent: October 7, 2003Assignee: Corning IncorporatedInventors: Michael E. Badding, Jacqueline L. Brown, Thomas D. Ketcham, Dell J. St. Julien
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Patent number: 6623881Abstract: The present invention relates to a compliant fuel cell apparatus which includes arrays of positive air electrodes and negative fuel electrodes with via interconnections disposed on a thin compliant electrolyte sheet; optional electrode designs include symmetric electrodes comprising a conductive silver alloy metal phase and a thermally stabilizing ceramic phase, the latter providing low interface resistance and matching thermal properties, with the resulting fuel cells remaining sufficiently compliant to demonstrate good resistance to thermal shock damage.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2001Date of Patent: September 23, 2003Assignee: Corning IncorporatedInventors: Michael E. Badding, Jacqueline L. Brown, Thomas D. Ketcham, Dell J. St. Julien, Raja R. Wusirika