Ferris Eugene Alger

[zerodish]

First thing you do is search for the Szilard papers. Yes that Szilard. I had assumed Alger's patents were classified by the government which is why his name was being scrubbed from the internet. I still think this but the real story is more complicated. This is a man who scorred 197 on an IQ test while he was in school Which is the one in a billion level but was generally screwed by the world because of his poverty. One of his inventions is the compression glass to metal seal used in vacuum tubes. We still make these tubes today and his paternts are still in use. I reached out to the high IQ community to see if there is any one who knew him. If so expect an article Noesis which is available for free on the web.

 

[Astronuc]

patents were classified by the government

Patents are not classified. Patents are filed with the Patent & Trademark Office (PTO) and are published in the public domain. Often patents are filed in other nations and with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). If some piece of technology is classified, it cannot be patented.

 

[wrobel]

This is a man who scorred 197 on an IQ test

hope this guy has other achievements:)

 

[Baluncore]

Patents are not classified.

During wartime, patents were selectively classified as secret, and not published, to prevent the enemy from gaining the information.

 

[Astronuc]

During wartime, patents were selectively classified as secret, and not published,

Certainly, during WWII and perhaps WWI.

The US government does have a provision for 'secret patents' or 'classified patents', which usually initiates with a review of patent applications for specific technology, which has been identified as sensitive to national security. Usually such patents are developed by DOE, DOD, NASA and corporations (defense contractors).
https://www.dtsa.mil/SitePages/assessing-and-managing-risk/patent-security-reviews.aspx
https://www.upcounsel.com/classified-patents
https://www.acquisition.gov/far/part-27

Patents, which are published (in the public domain), are not 'classified'.

It's not clear from the OP, to what patents the OP is referring.

During WWII, the some vacuum tube technology was probably patented is the technology was used in 'defense' applications. The cavity magnetron was maintained in secret from it's inception and for some time after the war.

Patents have an expiration date as most classified documents. The latter might be 25 years, 50 years, or longer depending on the significance (or gravity) of the classified information/technology.


https://slate.com/technology/2018/0...he-u-s-government-refuses-to-make-public.html
https://sgp.fas.org/othergov/invention/index.html