Christopher S Churchill

US Patent:

20020162298, Nov 7, 2002

Filed:

May 4, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/848792

Inventors:

Christopher Churchill - Sacramento CA, US
Charles Likes - Yuba City CA, US
Theodore Bauer - Central Point OR, US

International Classification:

E06B001/04
E04C002/38

US Classification:

052/783120, 052/784100, 052/204100, 052/455000, 052/656400

Abstract:

The present invention provides a building material derived from straw, such as rice straw, that has significantly improved fire-resistance properties over traditional cellulose-based materials. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of fabricating a board from milled rice straw. The milled rice straw is blended with a binder to form a mixture. The mixture is then formed into a mat with sufficient size to achieve a predetermined board thickness and density. The mat is then pressed into the board. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a fire resistant board that includes milled rice straw, a resin binder, and a fire retardant material such as an organic phosphate, zinc borate, aluminum tribydrate, sodium silicate, or even rice hulls.

US Patent:

20050258561, Nov 24, 2005

Filed:

Mar 7, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/074311

Inventors:

Christopher Churchill - Sacramento CA, US
Charles Likes - Yuba City CA, US
Theodore Bauer - Central Point OR, US

Assignee:

FiberTech, Inc. - Colusa CA
GREENCOR COMPOSITES, LLC - SACRAMENTO CA

International Classification:

B27N003/00

US Classification:

264109000, 156296000

Abstract:

The present invention provides a building material derived from straw, such as rice straw, that has significantly improved fire-resistance properties over traditional cellulose-based materials. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of fabricating a board from milled rice straw. The milled rice straw is blended with a binder to form a mixture. The mixture is then formed into a mat with sufficient size to achieve a predetermined board thickness and density. The mat is then pressed into the board. In another embodiment, the present invention provides a fire resistant board that includes milled rice straw, a resin binder, and a fire retardant material such as an organic phosphate, zinc borate, aluminum trihydrate, sodium silicate, or even rice hulls.

US Patent:

20060174798, Aug 10, 2006

Filed:

Dec 5, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/294292

Inventors:

Christopher Churchill - Sacramento CA, US

Assignee:

GREENCOR COMPOSITES, LLC - SACRAMENTO CA

International Classification:

C09D 5/20

US Classification:

106002000

Abstract:

The present invention is a fire-retardant wall having a fire-resistance rating of a least two hours and a method of making such a fire-retardant wall. The fire-retardant wall includes a first layer comprising an inner core, typically made of an insulated panel used in construction of buildings, and at least one second layer on each side of first layer, the at least one second layer further comprising at least one fire-resistant board of pressed milled straw, thereby forming the fire-retardant wall having a fire-resistance rating of at least two-hours. The second layer may also include a structural board used as a building panel in construction of buildings and/or an interior wall board used for internal and external walls and ceilings of buildings, wherein such boards are positioned on the exterior side of at least one board of pressed milled straw.

US Patent:

20120216522, Aug 30, 2012

Filed:

Dec 30, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/340886

Inventors:

Alan L. Browne - Grosse Pointe MI, US
Nancy L. Johnson - Northville MI, US
Paul W. Alexander - Ypsilanti MI, US
John Andrew Shaw - Dixter MI, US
Christopher Burton Churchill - Ann Arbor MI, US
Andrew C. Keefe - Encino CA, US
Geoffrey P. McKnight - Los Angeles CA, US
Guillermo A. Herrera - Winnetka CA, US
Nilesh D. Mankame - Ann Arbor MI, US
Richard J. Skurkis - Lake Orion MI, US
Wayne Brown - Costa Mesa CA, US

Assignee:

GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC - Detroit MI
The Regents of the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor MI
DYNALLOY, INC. - Tustin CA

International Classification:

F03G 7/06

US Classification:

60527

Abstract:

An energy harvesting system for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy includes a heat engine that operates using a shape memory alloy active material. The shape memory alloy member may be in thermal communication with a hot region at a first temperature and a cold region at a second temperature lower than the first temperature. The shape memory alloy material may be configured to selectively change crystallographic phase between martensite to austenite and thereby one of contract and expand in response to the first and second temperatures. A thermal conduction element may be in direct contact with the SMA material, where the thermal conduction element is configured to receive thermal energy from the hot region and to transfer a portion of the received thermal energy to the SMA material through conduction.

US Patent:

20120216523, Aug 30, 2012

Filed:

Dec 30, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/340892

Inventors:

Alan L. Browne - Grosse Pointe MI, US
Nancy L. Johnson - Northville MI, US
Nilesh D. Mankame - Ann Arbor MI, US
Paul W. Alexander - Ypsilanti MI, US
John Andrew Shaw - Dexter MI, US
Christopher Burton Churchill - Ann Arbor MI, US
Andrew C. Keefe - Encino CA, US
Geoffrey P. Mc Knight - Los Angeles CA, US
Guillermo A. Herrera - Winnetka CA, US
Jeffrey W. Brown - Los Gatos CA, US
Peter Maxwell Sarosi - Royal Oak MI, US
Richard J. Skurkis - Lake Orion MI, US

International Classification:

F03G 7/06

US Classification:

60527

Abstract:

An energy harvesting system for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy includes a heat engine that operates using a shape memory alloy active material. The shape memory alloy member may be in thermal communication with a hot region at a first temperature and a cold region at a second temperature lower than the first temperature. The shape memory alloy material may be configured to selectively change crystallographic phase between martensite to austenite and thereby one of contract and expand in response to the first and second temperatures. A driven component, such as an electric generator, may be selectively coupled with the heat engine through a coupling device, which may be controlled via a controller.

US Patent:

20120216525, Aug 30, 2012

Filed:

Dec 30, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/340897

Inventors:

Alan L. Browne - Grosse Pointe MI, US
Nancy L. Johnson - Northville MI, US
Nilesh D. Mankame - Ann Arbor MI, US
Paul W. Alexander - Ypsilanti MI, US
John Andrew Shaw - Dexter MI, US
Christopher Burton Churchill - Ann Arbor MI, US
Andrew C. Keefe - Encino CA, US
Guillermo A. Herrera - Winnetka CA, US
Jeffrey W. Brown - Los Gatos CA, US
Richard J. Skurkis - Lake Orion MI, US

International Classification:

F03G 7/06

US Classification:

60528

Abstract:

A shape memory alloy (SMA) heat engine includes a first rotatable pulley, a second rotatable pulley, and an SMA material disposed about the first and second rotatable pulleys and between a hot region and a cold region. A method of starting and operating the SMA heat engine includes detecting a thermal energy gradient between the hot region and the cold region using a controller, decoupling an electrical generator from one of the first and second rotatable pulleys, monitoring a speed of the SMA material about the first and second rotatable pulleys, and re-engaging the driven component if the monitored speed of the SMA material exceeds a threshold. The SMA material may selectively change crystallographic phase between martensite and austenite and between the hot region and the cold region to convert the thermal gradient into mechanical energy.

US Patent:

20120216526, Aug 30, 2012

Filed:

Dec 30, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/340942

Inventors:

Alan L. Browne - Grosse Pointe MI, US
Nancy L. Johnson - Northville MI, US
John Andrew Shaw - Dexter MI, US
Christopher Burton Churchill - Ann Arbor MI, US
Andrew C. Keefe - Encino CA, US
Geoffrey P. Mc Knight - Los Angeles CA, US
Paul W. Alexander - Ypsilanti MI, US
Peter Maxwell Sarosi - Royal Oak MI, US
Nilesh D. Mankame - Ann Arbor MI, US
Wayne Brown - Costa Mesa CA, US
Guillermo A. Herrera - Winnetka CA, US
Richard J. Skurkis - Lake Orion MI, US

International Classification:

F03G 7/06

US Classification:

60529

Abstract:

An energy harvesting system in thermal communication with a hot region and a cold region includes a hot end heat engine in thermal communication with the hot region, a cold end heat engine in thermal communication with the cold region, and an intermediate heat engine disposed between the hot end heat engine and the cold end heat engine. The hot end heat engine includes a hot end shape memory alloy (SMA) element, the cold end heat engine includes a cold end SMA element disposed, and the intermediate heat engine includes an intermediate SMA element. A hot side of the intermediate SMA element is in thermal communication with a cold side of the hot end SMA element. A cold side of the intermediate SMA element is in thermal communication with a hot side of the cold end SMA element.

US Patent:

20140007572, Jan 9, 2014

Filed:

Nov 29, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/688863

Inventors:

Shivaram AC - Bangalore, IN
Ashish KHANDELWAL - Bangalore, IN
Christopher B. CHURCHILL - Ventura CA, US

Assignee:

GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC - Detroit MI

International Classification:

F03G 7/06

US Classification:

60529, 60527

Abstract:

An actuator comprising an SMA element and a thermally responsive element that adjusts bias stress improves high ambient temperature operation.