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Historical Content Note: The following material is reprinted from publications from throughout Fermilab's history. It should be read in its original historical context.

Fermilab Patents Increasing

Source: The Village Crier Vol. 6 No. 43, November 7, 1974

(L-R) Mike Morgan, Carl Pallaver received patent checks from Rich Orr of Research Division. (1 of 3)
In the "I-minus pit" (L-R) are Chuck Schmidt, Bob Florian, Cy Curtis, Mike Shea, Bob Morgan-Pallaver's patented valve. (2 of 3)
(L - R) - T . Toohig, patent officer, and Fermilab inventors W. Fowler, J. Heim, Q. Kerns, B. Strauss, C. Swoboda. (3 of 3)

Carl Pallaver and Mike Morgan, of the Fermilab Neutrino Department, are the most recent recipients of checks for patented inventions resulting from their work at Fermilab. On September 23, Pallaver and Morgan each received $50 for their "Combination Vacuum Pump-Out and Pressure Relief Valve."

Carl and Mike have worked· together for seven years; they were at Argonne before coming to Fermilab. As Carl explains the beginning of their device, "If we'd had this device 15 years ago, we'd have saved a lot of trouble. To pump a cryogenic line, we have to have an operator to keep this certain valve from breaking off. Mike and I decided to make a good workable valve that doesn't need an operator. In other words, we took a complicated device and made it simple."

Inspired by their success, the two cryogenic men have now filed three different patent applications on three applications of a cryogenic engine. It's a natural, they feel, that will save the Laboratory a lot of money. It will take more than two years for the application to be processed.

Every employee at Fermilab signs an agreement to assign patent rights to the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission on any work done at Fermilab. This assures that new inventions at national laboratories will remain available to the public. The AEC in turn recognizes the talents of laboratory employees with a cash payment when inventions are patentable. Patent applications may be filed by individuals working at the Laboratory. All technical papers to be released outside the Laboratory are routinely subject to patent clearance by the Laboratory before they are sent out. At the end of 1974, 163 papers had received clearance; 14 applications were in process.

Quentin Kerns received the first patent award at Fermilab.

Bruce Strauss patented "A Method of Fabricating Composite Superconductive Electrical Conductors" in 1972 and, with Robert Sheldon, "Method for Centering and Restraining Coils in an Electromagnet" granted December 4, 1973.

Rudy Nissen and Edward Tilles collaborated on two patents granted in 1972. Also in 1972, Carl Swoboda and Alfred Maschke received cash awards for patents; Maschke previously was awarded patent money in 1970.

Others who have received payments for patents granted at Fermilab include William B. Fowler, Peter C. Vander Arend, and Joseph Heim.

Frank Cole of the Accelerator Division served as the first Patent Officer, followed by Drasko Jovanovic. Tim Toohig of the Research Division is the present Fermilab Patent Officer. Atty. Arthur A. Churm is chief of the Chicago Patent Group of the Chicago Operations Office of the AEC.