university of illinois - UIHistories Project

1957] UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS 505
saturation with carbon dioxide gas and use of ampules •— N. L. VanDemark, Professor
of Dairy Cattle Physiology, U. D. Sharma, former Assistant in Dairy
Science, and G. W. Salisbury, Professor and Head of the Department of Dairy
Science, inventors. This method permits the storage and preservation of spermatozoan
fertility at widely fluctuating temperatures above freezing. This is accomplished
by combining the semen with certain chemicals, antibiotics, and egg yolk
to form a diluent which is then combined with carbon dioxide and immediately
sealed in small ampules. The fertility of the semen can then be maintained at room
temperatures for a considerable period of time. Since present methods for the
preservation of semen are effective for only a short time, this discovery may be
extremely important in the breeding of animals. Because of the commercial possibilities
of this invention, it seemed wise to apply immediately for a patent, and
accordingly the Patent Committee authorized the Universit}' of Illinois Foundation
to make such an application, which has been filed with the United States Patent
Office.
Due to the possibility of wide interest in animal husbandry circles no recommendation
is being made at this time as to whether the holder of the patent, if
issued, should be the University or the Foundation. Because of the support which
the farmers' cooperatives in the state of Illinois have given to these programs, it
is the recommendation of the Department of Dairy Science that free use of this
idea be granted to any farmer or cooperative for use in the breeding of their own
farm livestock. The Patent Committee concurs in this policy and therefore recommends
that the following policy statement be approved by the Board of Trustees,
in connection with any patent issued on this invention:
"That the holder of any patent issued on a semen diluent and processing
method in which the University of Illinois has an interest grant a royalty-free
nonexclusive license for the use of the semen preserving process to any organization
or person who would combine the necessary ingredients and prepare
the diluent process in the breeding of their own farm livestock and to charge
a royalty to an organization or person who would sell the diluent to others for
use in the breeding of any animal."
Confirmation of the action of the Patent Committee in requesting the Foundation
to apply for a patent and approval of the above policy statement in the
administration of such a patent, if issued, is recommended.
2. Automatic temperature compensated storm warning system — Erwin K.
Weise, Research Associate Professor of Engineering, inventor. This device converts
into electrical signals changes in atmospheric pressure in such a manner as to
indicate approaching storms. This idea came to the inventor in his own home after
reading reports on tornado damages. No financial support has been given to this
invention by the University, and no University facilities, were used in its development.
For these reasons the Patent Committee recommends the outright release of
this invention to the inventor. (The Secretary of the Committee has advised the
inventor that if this invention is released to him by the Board of Trustees, he will
be free to take it to the Foundation for further consideration as to development if
he so wishes.)
3. Method of preparing pre-dried potato chips — Ogden C. Johnson, Research
Associate in Food Technology, and Fred A. Kummerow, Associate Professor of
Food Chemistry, inventors. This method embodies the dehydration of potato chips
during the frying operation, with a resulting potato chip with lower fat content
than normal potato chips. The Patent Committee has requested the University of
Illinois Foundation to approach the sponsor of the research under which this was
developed, the Continental Baking Company, with the possibility of further support
for development work and possible patent application if this appears to be
warranted.
4. Thermionic emitter — Robert J. Maurer, Professor of Physics, inventor.
This device produces the thermionic emission of electrons from a solid at or near
room temperature. The inventor conceived the idea of this device during a physics
colloquium. No University funds or facilities have been used in its conception or
development. The Patent Committee recommends its outright release to the
inventor.