Patents by Inventor Thomas M. McDonald

Thomas M. 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).

  • Publication number: 20240131491
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to a select class of porous adsorbent, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) capable of adsorbing carbon dioxide, their manufacturing, applications, and methods of use. Specifically, this disclosure relates to the solvo(hydro)thermal synthesis of a family of metal-organic frameworks, and their subsequent processing and transformation into material forms suitable for use in acid gas separations. More specifically, this disclosure relates to the preparation and recovery of MOFs at multiple scales of production, demonstrating the suitability and robustness of the materials thus obtained by the disclosed synthetic route and post-synthetic manipulation employed to tailor the materials for use in a variety of commercial acid gas separation systems, with improved performances, recyclability, and reuse characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2022
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Applicant: MOSAIC MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Aeri Gosselin, Joel H. Gamoras, Zoey Rose Herm, Thomas M. McDonald, Graham B. Wenz, Lina Zhu
  • Patent number: 11845058
    Abstract: A system and method for acid gas separations using porous frameworks of metal atoms coordinatively bound to polytopic linkers that are functionalized with basic nitrogen ligands that expose nitrogen atoms to the pore volumes forming adsorption sites. Adjacent basic nitrogen ligands on the metal-organic framework can form an ammonium from one ligand and a carbamate from the other. The formation of one ammonium carbamate pair influences the formation of ammonium carbamate on adjacent adsorption sites. Adsorption of acid gas at the adsorption sites form covalently linked aggregates of more than one ammonium carbamate ion pair. The acid gas adsorption isotherm can be tuned to match the step position with the partial pressure of acid gas in the gas mixture stream through manipulation of the metal-ligand bond strength by selection of the ligand, metal and polytopic linker materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Long, Thomas M. McDonald
  • Publication number: 20200391179
    Abstract: A system and method for acid gas separations using porous frameworks of metal atoms coordinatively bound to polytopic linkers that are functionalized with basic nitrogen ligands that expose nitrogen atoms to the pore volumes forming adsorption sites. Adjacent basic nitrogen ligands on the metal-organic framework can form an ammonium from one ligand and a carbamate from the other. The formation of one ammonium carbamate pair influences the formation of ammonium carbamate on adjacent adsorption sites. Adsorption of acid gas at the adsorption sites form covalently linked aggregates of more than one ammonium carbamate ion pair. The acid gas adsorption isotherm can be tuned to match the step position with the partial pressure of acid gas in the gas mixture stream through manipulation of the metal-ligand bond strength by selection of the ligand, metal and polytopic linker materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Publication date: December 17, 2020
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Long, Thomas M. McDonald
  • Patent number: 10722863
    Abstract: A system and method for acid gas separations using porous frameworks of metal atoms coordinatively bound to polytopic linkers that are functionalized with basic nitrogen ligands that expose nitrogen atoms to the pore volumes forming adsorption sites. Adjacent basic nitrogen ligands on the metal-organic framework can form an ammonium from one ligand and a carbamate from the other. The formation of one ammonium carbamate pair influences the formation of ammonium carbamate on adjacent adsorption sites. Adsorption of acid gas at the adsorption sites form covalently linked aggregates of more than one ammonium carbamate ion pair. The acid gas adsorption isotherm can be tuned to match the step position with the partial pressure of acid gas in the gas mixture stream through manipulation of the metal-ligand bond strength by selection of the ligand, metal and polytopic linker materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Long, Thomas M. McDonald
  • Publication number: 20190291074
    Abstract: Functionalized metal-organic framework adsorbents with ligands containing basic nitrogen groups such as alkylamines and alkyldiamines appended to the metal centers and method of isolating carbon dioxide from a stream of combined gases and carbon dioxide partial pressures below approximately 1 and 1000 mbar. The adsorption material has an isosteric heat of carbon dioxide adsorption of greater than ?60 kJ/mol at zero coverage using a dual-site Langmuir model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2018
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Long, Thomas M. McDonald, Deanna M. D'Alessandro
  • Patent number: 10137430
    Abstract: Functionalized metal-organic framework adsorbents with ligands containing basic nitrogen groups such as alkylamines and alkyldiamines appended to the metal centers and method of isolating carbon dioxide from a stream of combined gases and carbon dioxide partial pressures below approximately 1 and 1000 mbar. The adsorption material has an isosteric heat of carbon dioxide adsorption of greater than ?60 kJ/mol at zero coverage using a dual-site Langmuir model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Long, Thomas M. McDonald, Deanna M. D'Alessandro
  • Publication number: 20180272314
    Abstract: The disclosure provides for diamine-appended metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), methods of making thereof, and methods of use thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Long, Thomas M. McDonald, Rebecca L. Siegelman, Joshua A. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20180169613
    Abstract: Functionalized metal-organic framework adsorbents with ligands containing basic nitrogen groups such as alkylamines and alkyldiamines appended to the metal centers and method of isolating carbon dioxide from a stream of combined gases and carbon dioxide partial pressures below approximately 1 and 1000 mbar. The adsorption material has an isosteric heat of carbon dioxide adsorption of greater than ?60 kJ/mol at zero coverage using a dual-site Langmuir model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Long, Thomas M. McDonald, Deanna M. D'Alessandro
  • Patent number: 9987583
    Abstract: Porous aromatic framework polymers functionalized with Brønsted acid moieties are prepared by polymerization of a three-dimensional organic aryl or heteroaryl monomer and its copolymerization with a second aryl or heteroaryl monomer functionalized with one or more Brønsted acid moiety. The polymers are characterized by a stable three-dimensional structure, which, in exemplary embodiments, includes interpenetrating subunits within one or more domain of the bulk polymer structure. The polymers are of use in methods of adsorbing ammonia and amines and in devices and systems configured for this purpose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Jeffrey Van Humbeck, Jeffrey R. Long, Thomas M. McDonald, Gokhan Barin
  • Patent number: 9965479
    Abstract: In one example embodiment, a method is implemented to relink a data item. The method includes identifying that a data item, referenced by a referencing document, is absent from a data item location for the data item indicated by the referencing document. User preference data, indicating a designated relink location to search for absent data items, is accessed. The relink location is searched for the absent data items. Another example embodiment may include a method to relink a current data item to a replacement data item location by accessing user preference data and searching a relink location for a replacement data item in accordance with the relink location indicated by the user preference data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Lance D. Bushore, Michael Easter, Thomas M. McDonald
  • Patent number: 9861953
    Abstract: Functionalized metal-organic framework adsorbents with ligands containing basic nitrogen groups such as alkylamines and alkyldiamines appended to the metal centers and method of isolating carbon dioxide from a stream of combined gases and carbon dioxide partial pressures below approximately 1 and 1000 mbar. The adsorption material has an isosteric heat of carbon dioxide adsorption of greater than ?60 kJ/mol at zero coverage using a dual-site Langmuir model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Long, Thomas M. McDonald, Deanna M. D'Alessandro
  • Publication number: 20170151549
    Abstract: Functionalized metal-organic framework adsorbents with ligands containing basic nitrogen groups such as alkylamines and alkyldiamines appended to the metal centers and method of isolating carbon dioxide from a stream of combined gases and carbon dioxide partial pressures below approximately 1 and 1000 mbar. The adsorption material has an isosteric heat of carbon dioxide adsorption of greater than ?60 kJ/mol at zero coverage using a dual-site Langmuir model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Long, Thomas M. McDonald, Deanna M. D'Alessandro
  • Publication number: 20170087531
    Abstract: A system and method for acid gas separations using porous frameworks of metal atoms coordinatively bound to polytopic linkers that are functionalized with basic nitrogen ligands that expose nitrogen atoms to the pore volumes forming adsorption sites. Adjacent basic nitrogen ligands on the metal-organic framework can form an ammonium from one ligand and a carbamate from the other. The formation of one ammonium carbamate pair influences the formation of ammonium carbamate on adjacent adsorption sites. Adsorption of acid gas at the adsorption sites form covalently linked aggregates of more than one ammonium carbamate ion pair. The acid gas adsorption isotherm can be tuned to match the step position with the partial pressure of acid gas in the gas mixture stream through manipulation of the metal-ligand bond strength by selection of the ligand, metal and polytopic linker materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Long, Thomas M. McDonald
  • Publication number: 20160288041
    Abstract: Porous aromatic framework polymers functionalized with Brønsted acid moieites are prepared by polymerization of a three-dimensional organic aryl or heteroaryl monomer and its copolymerization with a second aryl or heteroaryl monomer functionalized with one or more Brønsted acid moiety. The polymers are characterized by a stable three-dimensional structure, which, in exemplary embodiments, includes interpenetrating subunits within one or more domain of the bulk polymer structure. The polymers are of use in methods of adsorbing ammonia and amines and in devices and systems configured for this purpose.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2014
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Jeffrey VAN HUMBECK, Jeffrey R. LONG, Thomas M. MCDONALD, Gokhan BARIN
  • Publication number: 20140294709
    Abstract: Functionalized metal-organic framework adsorbents with ligands containing basic nitrogen groups such as alkylamines and alkyldiamines appended to the metal centers and method of isolating carbon dioxide from a stream of combined gases and carbon dioxide partial pressures below approximately 1 and 1000 mbar. The adsorption material has an isosteric heat of carbon dioxide adsorption of greater than ?60 kJ/mol at zero coverage using a dual-site Langmuir model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Long, Thomas M. McDonald, Deanna M. D'Alessandro
  • Publication number: 20140032526
    Abstract: In one example embodiment, a method is implemented to relink a data item. The method includes identifying that a data item, referenced by a referencing document, is absent from a data item location for the data item indicated by the referencing document. User preference data, indicating a designated relink location to search for absent data items, is accessed. The relink location is searched for the absent data items. Another example embodiment may include a method to relink a current data item to a replacement data item location by accessing user preference data and searching a relink location for a replacement data item in accordance with the relink location indicated by the user preference data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Lance D. Bushore, Michael Easter, Thomas M. McDonald
  • Patent number: 6169491
    Abstract: A multi-port power monitor is provided which indicates whether power is being supplied to one or more of a plurality of ports connected to external devices. The multi-port power monitor comprises a plurality of serially connected indicators and a plurality of controllable switches which supply power to the individual indicators when one or more of the corresponding ports are active.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventor: Thomas M. McDonald
  • Patent number: 5894392
    Abstract: A power distribution unit for supplying temporary branch power has a 240-250 VAC input with input power line conductors L1 and L2, a neutral conductor N, and a ground conductor G. A supervisory circuit checks that the 240-250 VAC input is properly connected to the power distribution unit by requiring that the input voltage exceeds a supervisory circuit threshold voltage substantially greater than 120-125 volts. When that occurs, a contactor is enabled by the supervisory circuit to close first and second contacts therein to pass the 240-250 VAC on lines L1 and L2 therethrough to a 240-250 VAC ground fault interrupter protected circuit breaker outlet. A plurality of 120-125 VAC GFI module outlets are connected across either one of lines L1 and L2 at the output of the supervisory circuit and the neutral conductor N which bypasses the contactor. The supervisory circuit includes a diode bridge circuit connected across power line conductors L1 and L2 to convert a 240-250 VAC input to 240-250 VDC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventor: Thomas M. McDonald
  • Patent number: 5813868
    Abstract: An arrangement for accurately positioning a spring arm of a contact element on a mating component, such as a printed circuit board. More particularly, disclosed is an electrical contact spring arm which incorporates structure for accurately positioning the electrical contact element spring arm structure in slots formed in a printed circuit board or suitable support in a rapid and highly accurately positioned automatic manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Ward E. Strang, Carol Z. Howard, Thomas M. McDonald
  • Patent number: 5661623
    Abstract: A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) line cord plug utilizes an electronically latched relay, rather than a circuit breaker or other type of mechanical latching device, to interrupt the AC load power when a ground fault condition occurs. In order to reduce the size of the relay and minimize the cost and complexity of the GFCI plug, the fixed and movable relay contact structures are mounted directly to the circuit board which carries the remaining components of the GFCI circuit. In a preferred embodiment, the fixed relay contact structures are integral with the plug blades of the GFCI plug. The movable relay contact structures preferably comprise deflectable spring arms which are preloaded when the relay contacts are in the open position in order to control the contact gap, and which are deflected past the point of contact closure when the relay contacts are in the closed position in order to increase the closing force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: Hubbell Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas M. McDonald, Ward E. Strang, Carol Z. Howard