Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1948 [PAGE 513]

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512

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[August 5

Committee recommends that the employment of this firm for all necessary services in connection with this issue be authorized. The new issue will result in a saving over the remaining life of the obligation estimated at $75,200 on interest cost under that of the present loan.

On motion of Mr. Williamson, the award was made as recommended, subject to a confirming opinion to be secured from Chapman and Cutler.

RELEASE OF PATENTABLE DISCOVERIES (38) The Faculty Committee on Patents submits the following recommendations on patentable discoveries by members of the University staff which have been reported to and considered by the Committee. 1. Low reactance shunt, a device which permits a recording instrument to record only a fraction of the total current; thyratron controlled automatic positioner, a device for the accurate control of arc voltage (used in arc welding) by "positioning" the welding head in general situations in which high speed "positioning" is necessary. These are joint discoveries by Gilbert H . Fett, Associate Professor, and Robert J. LaPlante, Special Research Assistant, in the Department of Electrical Engineering, and are the result of research work under contract No. N6ORI-71-EE with the Bureau of Ships of the Navy Department. In the opinion of the discoverers, these devices do not offer sufficient possibilities of commercial exploitation to warrant the University in expending funds to secure patents. The Committee recommends that these discoveries be released to the Navy Department. 2. High speed counter, a joint discovery by Gilbert H . Fett, Associate P r o fessor, and Nathan Rynkowsky, Special Research Assistant, in Electrical Engineering. This discovery resulted from research work under Contract No. W28099-AD-132 with the Air Materiel Command of the United States Army Air Forces. This is a restricted contract covering research work of a highly confidential nature, and it provides that any patentable discoveries shall become the property of the United States. The Committee therefore recommends that this discovery be released to the Army. 3. Colonel George W . Gardes, Judge Advocate, General Division, Chief, Patents Group, presented through the office of the President of the University, a request that the University of Illinois release its right to file an application for a patent on a discovery described as a "Water Purification Process and Apparatus" which was made by Mr. H. E. Hudson, Jr., in the performance of the work contracted for by the University of Illinois with the Government of the United States in Contract No. OEMsr-593. It is recommended that this discovery be released, and that the Government be authorized to file an application for patent in the name of the discoverer, and that the discoverer be directed to execute the necessary assignments to the Government. The Government is to sustain all of the costs incident to the application for patent.

On motion of Mrs. Holt, these patents were released as recommended.

PRINCIPLES GOVERNING RESEARCH CONTRACTS (39) It is recommended that the following principles governing research contracts be submitted to the Board of Trustees to supersede Section V I of the policy relating to research contracts approved by the Board of Trustees October 18, 1945All research contracts are to be classified by the Director of the University research agency involved or by the Chairman of the University Research Board after consultation with those directly concerned and with the dean of the college involved. In the case of contracts involving the Chicago Professional Colleges only, the Vice-President in charge of the Chicago Professional Colleges will make this classification. Considering the direct value that accrues to the donor and in accordance with the scientific benefits resulting to the University and to the public, each contract should be classified as follows: I. Those mainly for the benefit of outside donors with little or no research objectives involved from the standpoint of the University. II. Those which fit University research objectives but from which the sponsor derives some benefit.