Patents by Inventor Walter L. Harmer

Walter L. Harmer 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: 6039775
    Abstract: An abrasive article is provided which includes a peripheral surface formed comprising a grinding aid. The grinding aid is formed from a mixture including an acid and at least one of an inorganic metal phosphate salt or an inorganic metal sulfate salt. The acid is preferably selected so that the mixture forms a film. The abrasive article preferably has sharp abrasive particles. The inventive abrasive article improves grinding efficacy, particularly in titanium grinding processes, as compared to abrasive articles that are substantially devoid of a grinding aid of the present invention. Also provided is a method for making an abrasive article and a method of abrading a surface with an abrasive article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Kwok-Lun Ho, Robert A. Follensbee, Walter L. Harmer, Mary L. Morris
  • Patent number: 5954844
    Abstract: An abrasive article, for example, a coated, bonded, or nonwoven abrasive article comprising a binder, a plurality of abrasive particles, and an antiloading component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Kam W. Law, Walter L. Harmer, Alan R. Kirk, Ernest L. Thurber
  • Patent number: 5914299
    Abstract: An abrasive article is provided that includes at least one binder system formed from a polymeric additive and a thermosetting resin. The polymeric additive includes a polymeric backbone having substituents attached thereto, wherein the substituents include at least one urethane linked nitrogen bonded side chain having about 5 carbon atoms or more and a terminal methyl group and at least one oxygen linked water solubilizing group. An abrasive article that includes the binder system exhibits an increase of workpiece surface abraded in a Woodsanding Normal Force Test as compared to an abrasive article including a binder system formed from a composition containing substantially no polymeric additive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Walter L. Harmer, James P. DiZio, Alan R. Kirk
  • Patent number: 5908477
    Abstract: An abrasive article is provided that includes a bond system formed from a binder precursor and about 15% by weight or less of a wax-containing modifier. An abrasive article that includes the bond system exhibits an increase of workpiece surface abraded in a Woodsanding Normal Force Test as compared to an abrasive article including a bond system formed from a composition containing substantially no wax-containing modifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Walter L. Harmer, Don H. Kincaid, Alan R. Kirk, Eric G. Larson
  • Patent number: 5840090
    Abstract: A coated abrasive article comprised of a backing having a layer of grains adherently bonded thereto by a binding material, wherein the layer of grains comprises abrasive grains and nonabrasive composite grains, and the nonabrasive composite grains comprise inorganic nonabrasive particles bonded together by a binder selected from the group consisting of a metal salt of fatty acid, colloidal silica, and combinations thereof. The abrasive article has an unexpected abrading efficiency, performing equal to, or superior to, a coated abrasive article containing only abrasive grains. The invention also relates to a bonded abrasive article comprising the abrasive grains and nonabrasive composite grains adhered together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing
    Inventors: Kwok-Lun Ho, Walter L. Harmer
  • Patent number: 5738695
    Abstract: An abrasive article, and methods of making and using same, comprising an inorganic phosphate selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal metaphosphate, an alkaline earth metal metaphosphate, and a Group IIIA metal orthophosphate; the inorganic phosphate may be present in a peripheral coating layer of a coated abrasive article, or an abrasive slurry coating in a uniform thickness, or a structured abrasive article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Walter L. Harmer, Kwok-Lun Ho
  • Patent number: 5704952
    Abstract: An abrasive article, for example, a coated, bonded, or nonwoven abrasive article comprising a binder, a plurality of abrasive particles, and an antiloading component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Kam W. Law, Walter L. Harmer, Alan R. Kirk, Ernest L. Thurber
  • Patent number: 5702811
    Abstract: A coated abrasive article comprised of a backing having a layer of grains adherently bonded thereto by a binding material, wherein the layer of grains comprises abrasive grains and nonabrasive composite grains, and the nonabrasive composite grains comprise inorganic nonabrasive particles bonded together by a binder selected from the group consisting of a metal salt of fatty acid, colloidal silica, and combinations thereof. The abrasive article has an unexpected abrading efficiency, performing equal to, or superior to, a coated abrasive article containing only abrasive grains. The invention also relates to a bonded abrasive article comprising the abrasive grains and nonabrasive composite grains adhered together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Inventors: Kwok-Lun Ho, Walter L. Harmer
  • Patent number: 5667542
    Abstract: An abrasive article, for example, a coated, bonded, or nonwoven abrasive article comprising a binder, a plurality of abrasive particles, and an antiloading component in a peripheral coating of the abrasive article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Kam W. Law, Walter L. Harmer
  • Patent number: 5562745
    Abstract: Abrasive articles comprising a plurality of abrasive particles, a combination of potassium tetrafluoroborate and a halogenated polymer, and a binder to which the plurality of abrasive particles are adhered, and methods of making and using the abrasive articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: John J. Gagliardi, Jason A. Chesley, Charles H. Houck, Walter L. Harmer, Gary L. Olson
  • Patent number: 5360462
    Abstract: A method for preparing a coated abrasive article wherein the a plurality of abrasive grains are applied to a make coat such that the abrasive grains are substantially a mono-layer. The make coat precursor is a pressure-sensitive adhesive-like or pressure-sensitive adhesive. The make coat precursor is partially cured to approximate a pressure-sensitive adhesive-like layer or when fully cured is a pressure-sensitive adhesive. The make coat precursor has sufficient "tack" to hold the abrasive grains during the application and curing of the size coat, resulting in a substantially monolayer of abrasive grains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Walter L. Harmer, Robert J. DeVoe, Eric G. Larson, Don H. Kincaid, Peggy S. Willett, Jerry W. Williams
  • Patent number: 5269821
    Abstract: Coatable mixtures including erodable filler agglomerates, and abrasive articles into which they may be incorporated are presented, the agglomerates comprising a plurality of individual grains of water insoluble filler agglomerated by an agglomerating agent which includes water soluble filler and a binder. A preferred water soluble filler is Al.sub.2 (SO.sub.4).sub.3.14-18H.sub.2 O, a preferred water insoluble filler is Na.sub.3 AlF.sub.6 (cryolite), while a preferred binder is a phenolic resin. Methods of making coatable mixtures including erodable filler agglomerates are also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Harvey J. Helmin, Walter L. Harmer
  • Patent number: 5256170
    Abstract: A method for preparing a coated abrasive article wherein the a plurality of abrasive grains are applied to a make coat such that the abrasive grains are substantially a mono-layer. The make coat precursor is a pressure-sensitive adhesive-like or pressure-sensitive adhesive. The make coat precursor is partially cured to approximate a pressure-sensitive adhesive-like layer or when fully cured is a pressure-sensitive adhesive. The make coat precursor has sufficient "tack" to hold the abrasive grains during the application and curing of the size coat, resulting in a substantially monolayer of abrasive grains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Walter L. Harmer, Robert J. DeVoe, Eric G. Larson, Don H. Kincaid, Peggy S. Willett, Jerry W. Williams
  • Patent number: 5061294
    Abstract: Coated abrasive product contains a conductive, doped, conjugated polymer to reduce the static charge generated during abrading operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Walter L. Harmer, Leif Christensen, Gary J. Drtina, Harvey J. Helmin
  • Patent number: 4273912
    Abstract: A tough, wear-resistant polyurethane coating composition particularly suited for providing a protective coating on an elastomeric flooring is provided by the moisture-cured reaction product of an organic isocyanate-terminated prepolymer produced by reacting a diol component comprising at least one diol having a weighted average molecular weight between about 500 and 1200 and two primary hydroxyl groups, sufficient diisocyanate compound having two terminal isocyanate groups and sufficient compatible catalyst to facilitate the cure of the prepolymer. The invention also includes a floor covering material having a traffic surface coated with the coating composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1981
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Walter L. Harmer