David James Spencer

US Patent:

7763820, Jul 27, 2010

Filed:

Nov 27, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/986830

Inventors:

David B. Spencer - Bedford MA, US
R. Lynn Conley - Nashville TN, US
Richard E. Hill - Nashville TN, US
Robert H. Parrish - Nashville TN, US
Charles E. Roos - Nashville TN, US

Assignee:

Spectramet, LLC - Wilmington DE

International Classification:

B07C 5/00

US Classification:

209576, 209579, 209589, 356316, 356318, 378 45, 378 47

Abstract:

A piece of material that includes low-Z elements is classified based on photonic emissions detected from the piece of material. Both XRF spectroscopy and OES techniques, for example, Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) and spark discharge spectroscopy, may be used to classify the piece of material. A stream of pieces of material are moved along a conveying system into a stimulation and detection area. Each piece of material, in turn, is stimulated with a first and second stimulus, of a same or different type, causing the piece of material to emit emissions, for example, photons, which may include at least one of x-ray photons (i. e. , x-rays) and optical emissions. These emissions then are detected by one or more detectors of a same or different type. The piece of materials is then classified, for example, using a combination of hardware, software and/or firmware, based on the detected emissions, and then sorted.

US Patent:

20130079918, Mar 28, 2013

Filed:

Aug 31, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/600969

Inventors:

David B. Spencer - Bedford MA, US
Jeffrey J. Webster - Leeds MA, US
Aldo M. Reti - Cape Coral FL, US
Richard E. Hill - Nashville TN, US
R. Lynn Conley - Antioch TN, US

Assignee:

Spectramet, LLC - Bedford MA

International Classification:

B07C 5/34
G01N 23/223

US Classification:

700223, 378 45, 378 49

Abstract:

Systems for sorting materials, such as those made of metal, are described. The systems may operate by irradiating the materials with x-rays and then detecting fluoresced x-rays, transmitted x-rays, or both. Detection of the fluoresced x-rays may be performed using an x-ray fluorescence detector array. The systems may be configured to provide high throughput sorting of small pieces of materials.

US Patent:

20130264249, Oct 10, 2013

Filed:

Jun 3, 2013

Appl. No.:

13/908534

Inventors:

David B. Spencer - Bedford MA, US
R. Lynn Conley - Antioch TN, US
Richard E. Hill - Nashville TN, US
Robert H. Parrish - Nashville TN, US
Charles E. Roos - Nashville TN, US

International Classification:

B07C 5/342

US Classification:

209589

Abstract:

A piece of material that includes low-Z elements is classified based on photonic emissions detected from the piece of material. Both XRF spectroscopy and OES techniques, for example, Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) and spark discharge spectroscopy, may be used to classify the piece of material. A stream of pieces of material are moved along a conveying system into a stimulation and detection area. Each piece of material, in turn, is stimulated with a first and second stimulus, of a same or different type, causing the piece of material to emit emissions, for example, photons, which may include at least one of x-ray photons (i.e., x-rays) and optical emissions. These emissions then are detected by one or more detectors of a same or different type. The piece of materials is then classified, for example, using a combination of hardware, software and/or firmware, based on the detected emissions, and then sorted.

US Patent:

39544559, May 4, 1976

Filed:

May 20, 1974

Appl. No.:

5/471324

Inventors:

Merton C. Flemings - Lexington MA
Robert Mehrabian - Arlington MA
David B. Spencer - Bedford MA

Assignee:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Cambridge MA

International Classification:

C22C 2300
C22C 1800
C22C 3300

US Classification:

75134R

Abstract:

A metal composition characterized by degenerate dendritic or nodular primary discrete solid particles suspended in a secondary phase having a lower melting point than the primary particles and which secondary phase can be solid or liquid. The method involves raising the temperature of a metal alloy to a value at which the alloy is largely or completely in the molten state. The melt then is subjected to vigorous agitation and the temperature is reduced to increase the portion of the mixture in solid degenerate dendrite or nodular form up to about sixty-five percent, but usually up to about fifty percent, while continuing the agitation. At this juncture the temperature of the liquid-solid composition can be reduced to cause solidification thereof or it can be cast. The solidified composition can be stored and later it can be brought again to the liquid-solid mixture state and then recast.