Patents Assigned to General Fusion, Inc.
  • Patent number: 9267515
    Abstract: Examples of a jet control device are described. The jet control device can comprise a jet deflecting member that is configured to intercept and/or collide with a high speed jet emerging from a jet formation location. The interaction of the jet deflecting member and the jet can cause the high speed jet to be dispersed into a plurality of jets with a number of flow directions which may be sideways to an initial direction of the high speed jet. In one embodiment the deflecting member can include a liquid guide formed by injecting a fluid out of an outlet nozzle so that the liquid guide extends longitudinally away from the outlet nozzle. In another embodiment the deflecting member can include an array of solid pellets injected through an outlet in a direction of the emerging high speed jet and configured to collide with the emerging jet thereby deflecting its initial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: General Fusion Inc.
    Inventors: Victoria Suponitsky, Sandra Justine Barsky, J. Michel G. Laberge, Douglas Harvey Richardson, Peter Leszek Kostka
  • Patent number: 9271383
    Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for compressing plasma are disclosed in which plasma can be compressed by impact of a projectile on a magnetized plasma in a liquid metal cavity. The projectile can melt in the liquid metal cavity, and liquid metal may be recycled to form new projectiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: General Fusion, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen James Howard, Michel Georges Laberge, Lon McIlwraith, Douglas Harvey Richardson, James Gregson
  • Publication number: 20150321223
    Abstract: Examples of a pressure wave generator configured to generate high energy pressure waves in a medium are disclosed. The pressure wave generator can include a sabot carrying a piston. The sabot can further comprise a locking means to lock the piston in a fixed position when the locking means are activated. When the locking means are in a deactivated position, the piston can be released and can move at least partially away from the sabot. The sabot carrying the piston can be disposed within an inner bore of a housing of the pressure wave generator and can move within the inner bore of the housing from its first end toward its second end along a longitudinal axis of the bore. A transducer can be accommodated in the second end of the housing. The transducer can be coupled to the medium and can convert a portion of the kinetic energy of the piston into a pressure wave in the medium upon impact of the piston with the transducer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Applicant: General Fusion Inc.
    Inventors: Lon William McIlwraith, Michel G. Laberge
  • Publication number: 20150216028
    Abstract: Examples of a plasma acceleration and compression device are described. The device includes a plasma accelerator with a high compression funnel section extending from an inlet of the accelerator and an elongated section connected to the high compression funnel section that can extend from the end of the funnel section to an accelerator's outlet. The funnel section can be a cone with a steep tapering while the elongated section can have a mild, gentle, tapering along its length toward the outlet. The device further includes a power source for providing a current pulse to the accelerator to generate a pushing flux to accelerate and compress a plasma torus throughout the accelerator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Applicant: General Fusion, Inc.
    Inventors: Michel G. Laberge, Meritt Reynolds
  • Patent number: 8887618
    Abstract: Examples of a pressure wave generator configured to generate high energy pressure waves in a medium are disclosed. The pressure wave generator can include a movable piston with a guide through which a piston control rod can move or slide. The pressure wave generator can include a transducer coupled to a medium. During an impact of the piston on the transducer, the control rod can slide in the guide, which can reduce stress on the rod. The pressure wave generator can include a damper to decelerate the control rod, independently of the piston. Impact of the piston on the transducer transfers a portion of the piston's kinetic energy into the medium thereby generating pressure waves in the medium. A piston driving system may be used to provide precise and controlled launching or movement of the piston. Examples of methods of operating the pressure wave generator are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: General Fusion, Inc.
    Inventors: Lon McIlwraith, John Senger, Darcy Montgomery, Douglas H. Richardson, Peter Kostka, Kristin Bell, Ryan Zindler, Michel Georges Laberge
  • Patent number: 8891719
    Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for compressing plasma are disclosed in which plasma can be compressed by impact of a projectile on a magnetized plasma in a liquid metal cavity. The projectile can melt in the liquid metal cavity, and liquid metal may be recycled to form new projectiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: General Fusion, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen James Howard, Michel Georges Laberge, Lon McIlwraith, Douglas Harvey Richardson, James Gregson
  • Patent number: 8537958
    Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for compressing plasma are described in which plasma pressures above the breaking point of solid material can be achieved by injecting a plasma into a funnel of liquid metal in which the plasma is compressed and/or heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: General Fusion, Inc.
    Inventors: Michel Georges Laberge, Douglas H. Richardson
  • Publication number: 20110243292
    Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for compressing plasma are disclosed in which plasma can be compressed by impact of a projectile on a magnetized plasma in a liquid metal cavity. The projectile can melt in the liquid metal cavity, and liquid metal may be recycled to form new projectiles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: GENERAL FUSION, INC.
    Inventors: Stephen James HOWARD, Michel Georges LABERGE, Lon MCILWRAITH, Douglas Harvey RICHARDSON, James GREGSON
  • Publication number: 20110026658
    Abstract: Embodiments of systems and methods for compressing plasma are disclosed in which plasma can be compressed by impact of a projectile on a magnetized plasma in a liquid metal cavity. The projectile can melt in the liquid metal cavity, and liquid metal may be recycled to form new projectiles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: General Fusion, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen James Howard, Michel Georges Laberge, Lon McIlwraith, Douglas Harvey Richardson, James Gregson