Douglas E Smith

Title: Innovations of Douglas E. Smith

Introduction

Douglas E. Smith is an accomplished inventor based in Woodway, TX (US). He holds 2 patents that showcase his expertise in the field of ultrasonic testing and polymer rheology. His innovative contributions have significantly advanced the capabilities of non-destructive testing and polymer processing.

Latest Patents

One of his latest patents is titled "System and method for portable ultrasonic testing." This invention provides a system with an ultrasonic transducer housing assembly that maintains an acoustic coupling path for spherically focused transducers. It allows the placement of the housing at angles relative to a vertical angle, extending the use of spherically focused transducers into portable systems. This innovation significantly reduces system and operational costs for non-destructive testing. The transducer housing assembly features a lens housing with an opening sealed with a replaceable fluid-tight membrane, defining an acoustic window with properties similar to those of fluid in the housing. This design minimizes signal loss and contains minimal fluid to be cleaned up in case of improper use or leakage. Additionally, the transducer housing includes an optional surface offset and the ability to adjust the focal point of the transducer relative to the component surface.

Another notable patent is "System and method for determining polymer filament rheological properties." This invention provides a low-cost and accurate rheometer system capable of determining melt flow rheological properties of polymers, particularly from Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) polymeric materials. The device includes a filament feeding system, liquefier for filament melting, force transducer for measuring filament feeding force, and a temperature control system for managing polymer melt temperatures. An electronic control system captures data and manages operations, allowing the measurement of filament velocity and force required to extrude the FFF filament for printing. The data can be used to compute melt volumetric flow relative to pressure drop across a FFF nozzle, transforming the computed data sets through nonlinear curve fitting to determine rheological parameters.

Career Highlights

Douglas has worked with notable organizations such as Verifi Technologies, LLC and Baylor University. His experience in these institutions has contributed to his development as an inventor and innovator in his field.

Collaborations

Some of his coworkers include David Abram Jack and Benjamin M. Blandford. Their collaboration has likely fostered an environment of innovation and creativity.

Conclusion

Douglas E. Smith