Robert L Moran

US Patent:

20010024096, Sep 27, 2001

Filed:

May 31, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/870919

Inventors:

Robert Moran - Tega Cay SC, US
James Flesher - Charlotte NC, US

International Classification:

G05B011/01

US Classification:

318/560000

Abstract:

An apparatus for precisely controlling the feed rate of a feeder comprises: a motor operatively connected to the feeder to cause dispensing of the feeder when the motor is driven; a control circuit for supplying, when actuated, an AC voltage supply to the motor for driving of the motor; a counter disposed in communication with the control circuit for actuation thereof when an overflow signal is generated by the counter; a latch controller disposed in communication with the counter for enablement and disablement of the counter, the latch controller disabling the counter when the overflow signal is generated by the counter; a detector connected to the AC voltage supply for detecting when the AC voltage crosses over a median voltage thereof, the detector further disposed in communication with the latch controller for enablement of the counter when the median voltage is detected; and a fuzzy logic controller disposed in communication with the counter for generating an output to the counter that loads a determined count into the counter such that the counter generates an overflow signal within a time interval equal to a determined percentage of the half period of the AC voltage. The control circuit includes a pair of silicon control rectifiers disposed in parallel but reversed to one another resulting in each silicon control rectifier being able to supply the AC voltage to the motor during opposite half periods of a time period of the AC voltage if continuously actuated.

US Patent:

63104547, Oct 30, 2001

Filed:

Nov 6, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/188402

Inventors:

Robert L. Moran - Tega Cay SC
James L. Flesher - Charlotte NC

International Classification:

G05B 1101

US Classification:

318560

Abstract:

An apparatus for precisely controlling the feed rate of a feeder comprises: a motor operatively connected to the feeder to cause dispensing of the feeder when the motor is driven; a control circuit for supplying, when actuated, an AC voltage supply to the motor for driving of the motor; a counter disposed in communication with the control circuit for actuation thereof when an overflow signal is generated by the counter; a latch controller disposed in communication with the counter for enablement and disablement of the counter, the latch controller disabling the counter when the overflow signal is generated by the counter; a detector connected to the AC voltage supply for detecting when the AC voltage crosses over a median voltage thereof, the detector further disposed in communication with the latch controller for enablement of the counter when the median voltage is detected; and a fuzzy logic controller disposed in communication with the counter for generating an output to the counter that loads a determined count into the counter such that the counter generates an overflow signal within a time interval equal to a determined percentage of the half period of the AC voltage. The control circuit includes a pair of silicon control rectifiers disposed in parallel but reversed to one another resulting in each silicon control rectifier being able to supply the AC voltage to the motor during opposite half periods of a time period of the AC voltage if continuously actuated.

US Patent:

20230102962, Mar 30, 2023

Filed:

Nov 7, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/982276

Inventors:

- Charlotte NC, US
Takahiko Kondo - Shiga, JP
William John Mason - McConnells SC, US
Kang Karen Xiao - Mississauga, CA
Robert Moran - Concord NC, US
Jeffrey G. Poley - Indian Land SC, US
Brian R. Stepp - Scotttsdale AZ, US
Kristoffer K. Stokes - Lunenburg MA, US
Xiaomin Zhang - Charlotte NC, US

International Classification:

B01D 67/00
H01M 50/491
H01M 50/406
H01M 50/417
B29C 55/12
H01M 50/463
H01M 50/494
B01D 69/02
H01M 50/451
B01D 69/12
H01M 50/446
H01M 50/403
H01M 50/449
B01D 71/26
H01M 10/0525
H01M 50/457
B29C 48/00
B29K 23/00
B29L 31/34
B29L 31/00

Abstract:

This application is directed to new and/or improved MD and/or TD stretched and optionally calendered membranes, separators, base films, microporous membranes, battery separators including said separator, base film or membrane, batteries including said separator, and/or methods for making and/or using such membranes, separators, base films, microporous membranes, battery separators and/or batteries. For example, new and/or improved methods for making microporous membranes, and battery separators including the same, that have a better balance of desirable properties than prior microporous membranes and battery separators. The methods disclosed herein comprise the following steps: 1.) obtaining a non-porous membrane precursor; 2.) forming a porous biaxially-stretched membrane precursor from the non-porous membrane precursor; 3.) performing at least one of (a) calendering, (b) an additional machine direction (MD) stretching, (c) an additional transverse direction (TD) stretching, and (d) a pore-filling on the porous biaxially stretched precursor to form the final microporous membrane. The microporous membranes or battery separators described herein may have the following desirable balance of properties, prior to application of any coating: a TD tensile strength greater than 200 or 250 kg/cm, a puncture strength greater than 200, 250, 300, or 400 gf, and a JIS Gurley greater than 20 or 50 s.

US Patent:

20210126319, Apr 29, 2021

Filed:

May 24, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/616521

Inventors:

- Charlotte NC, US
Takahiko Kondo - Charlotte NC, US
William John Mason - McConnells SC, US
Kang Karen Xiao - Mississauga, CA
Robert Moran - Concord NC, US
Jeffrey G. Poley - Indian Land SC, US
Brian R. Stepp - Charlotte NC, US
Kristoffer K. Stokes - Lunenburg MA, US
Xiaomin Zhang - Charlotte NC, US

International Classification:

H01M 50/451
B01D 67/00
B01D 69/02
B01D 71/26
B01D 69/12
H01M 10/0525
H01M 50/406
H01M 50/417
H01M 50/446
B29C 55/12
B29C 48/00
H01M 50/491

Abstract:

This application is directed to new and/or improved MD and/or TD stretched and optionally calendered membranes, separators, base films, microporous membranes, battery separators including said separator, base film or membrane, batteries including said separator, and/or methods for making and/or using such membranes, separators, base films, microporous membranes, battery separators and/or batteries. For example, new and/or improved methods for making microporous membranes, and battery separators including the same, that have a better balance of desirable properties than prior microporous membranes and battery separators. The methods disclosed herein comprise the following steps: 1.) obtaining a non-porous membrane precursor; 2.) forming a porous biaxially-stretched membrane precursor from the non-porous membrane precursor; 3.) performing at least one of (a) calendering, (b) an additional machine direction (MD) stretching, (c) an additional transverse direction (TD) stretching, and (d) a pore-filling on the porous biaxially stretched precursor to form the final microporous membrane. The microporous membranes or battery separators described herein may have the following desirable balance of properties, prior to application of any coating: a TD tensile strength greater than 200 or 250 kg/cm2, a puncture strength greater than 200, 250, 300, or 400 gf, and a JIS Gurley greater than 20 or 50 s.

US Patent:

20210036293, Feb 4, 2021

Filed:

Sep 14, 2020

Appl. No.:

17/020347

Inventors:

- Charlotte NC, US
William John Mason - McConnells SC, US
Kang Karen Xiao - Mississauga, CA
Xiaomin Zhang - Charlotte NC, US
Barry J. Summey - Lake Wylie SC, US
Robert Moran - Concord NC, US
Jeffrey Gordon Poley - Indian Land SC, US
Brian R. Stepp - Scottsdale AZ, US
Changqing Wang Adams - Fort Mill SC, US
Daniel R. Alexander - Matthews NC, US
Shante P. Williams - Charlotte NC, US
Andrew Edward Voss - Rock Hill SC, US
Douglas George Robertson - Charlotte NC, US

International Classification:

H01M 2/16
H01M 2/14
H01M 2/18
H01M 10/42

Abstract:

Novel or improved microporous single or multilayer battery separator membranes, separators, batteries including such membranes or separators, methods of making such membranes, separators, and/or batteries, and/or methods of using such membranes, separators and/or batteries are provided. In accordance with at least certain embodiments, a multilayer dry process polyethylene/polypropylene/polyethylene microporous separator which is manufactured using the inventive process which includes machine direction stretching followed by transverse direction stretching and a subsequent calendering step as a means to reduce the thickness of the multilayer microporous membrane, to reduce the percent porosity of the multilayer microporous membrane in a controlled manner and/or to improve transverse direction tensile strength. In a very particular embodiment, the inventive process produces a thin multilayer microporous membrane that is easily coated with polymeric-ceramic coatings, has excellent mechanical strength properties due to its polypropylene layer or layers and a thermal shutdown function due to its polyethylene layer or layers. The ratio of the thickness of the polypropylene and polyethylene layers in the inventive multilayer microporous membrane can be tailored to balance mechanical strength and thermal shutdown properties.

US Patent:

20170084898, Mar 23, 2017

Filed:

Sep 16, 2016

Appl. No.:

15/267566

Inventors:

- Charlotte NC, US
William John Mason - McConnells SC, US
Kang Karen Xiao - Mississauga, CA
Xiaomin Zhang - Charlotte NC, US
Barry J. Summey - Lake Wylie SC, US
Robert Moran - Concord NC, US
Jeffrey Gordon Poley - Pineville NC, US
Brian R. Stepp - Charlotte NC, US
Changqing Wang Adams - Fort Mill SC, US
Daniel R. Alexander - Matthews NC, US
Shante P. Williams - Charlotte NC, US
Andrew Edward Voss - Rock Hill SC, US
Douglas George Robertson - Charlotte NC, US

International Classification:

H01M 2/16
H01M 10/052
H01M 2/14

Abstract:

Novel or improved microporous single or multilayer battery separator membranes, separators, batteries including such membranes or separators, methods of making such membranes, separators, and/or batteries, and/or methods of using such membranes, separators and/or batteries are provided. In accordance with at least certain embodiments, a multilayer dry process polyethylene/polypropylene/polyethylene microporous separator which is manufactured using the inventive process which includes machine direction stretching followed by transverse direction stretching and a subsequent calendering step as a means to reduce the thickness of the multilayer microporous membrane, to reduce the percent porosity of the multilayer microporous membrane in a controlled manner and/or to improve transverse direction tensile strength. In a very particular embodiment, the inventive process produces a thin multilayer microporous membrane that is easily coated with polymeric-ceramic coatings, has excellent mechanical strength properties due to its polypropylene layer or layers and a thermal shutdown function due to its polyethylene layer or layers. The ratio of the thickness of the polypropylene and polyethylene layers in the inventive multilayer microporous membrane can be tailored to balance mechanical strength and thermal shutdown properties.