Patents Assigned to Orbital ATK, Inc.
  • Patent number: 9151579
    Abstract: A missile component such as a rocket motor case, of an initial transverse cross-sectional shape flexible into another, different cross-section responsive to application of internal pressure from ignition of a propellant grain within the component. A missile launch assembly including at least one missile of a non-circular cross-section disposed within a segment of a partitioned circular launch tube. A multi-stage missile comprising at least a first stage and a second stage having rocket motor cases of non-circular transverse cross-section, the rocket motor case of at least one of the stages being deformable into another, different cross-section. A method of launching a missile including igniting a rocket motor of a missile component having a first cross-section, internally pressurizing the missile component substantially concurrently with motor ignition and flexing the component rocket motor into a second, different cross-sectional shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: ORBITAL ATK, INC.
    Inventors: Phillip R. Martineau, Christopher J. Sullivan, David W. Hull, Steven C. Sara
  • Patent number: 9146058
    Abstract: A two-phase heat transfer system includes an evaporator unit configured to receive heat from a source, a liquid line fluidly connected to the evaporator unit, a vapor line fluidly connected to the evaporator unit, and a condenser. The condensing unit includes a thermal capacitance device and a condenser integrated with the thermal capacitance device. Methods of forming a thermal storage unit include preparing a honeycomb core to receive a phase change material, metallurgically bonding end pieces to the core, to thermally link the end pieces to the core, and bonding the end pieces together to form a seal for holding the phase change material within the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: ORBITAL ATK, INC.
    Inventors: David C. Bugby, Edward J. Kroliczek, Jessica Maria Kester
  • Patent number: 9133150
    Abstract: The present invention provides O-nitro compounds, pharmaceutical compositions of O-nitro compounds and methods of using O-nitro compounds and/or pharmaceutical compositions thereof to treat or prevent diseases or disorders characterized by abnormal cell proliferation, such as cancer, inflammation, cardiovascular disease and autoimmune disease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: ORBITAL ATK, INC.
    Inventors: Mark D. Bednarski, Susan Knox, Louis F. Cannizzo, Kirstin F. Warner, Robert B. Wardle, Stephen P. Velarde, Shoucheng Ning
  • Patent number: 9115970
    Abstract: A high voltage firing unit may comprise a high voltage converter, a capacitive discharge unit, and a control unit. The high voltage converter may be configured to generate a high voltage output signal from a lower voltage input signal. The capacitive discharge unit may be configured to store energy from the high voltage output signal across an energy storage device, and to discharge energy from the energy storage device in response to a fire control signal. The control unit operably may be configured to communicate with an external ordnance controller and control internal operations of the high voltage firing unit. An ordnance system, may comprise a high voltage firing unit and an ordnance controller configured to communicate data with the control unit and at least one power signal to the high voltage converter. A method for operating a high voltage firing unit is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: ORBITAL ATK, INC.
    Inventors: Derek R. DeVries, Brent D. Madsen, Eldon C. Peterson, Donald L. Jackson, William W. Thorup, Scott K. Lusk
  • Patent number: 9119277
    Abstract: A charge-neutralization system is provided. The charge-neutralization system includes a reservoir, a plasma generator and a flow-restricting transfer line. The reservoir is configured to hold matter to be ionized under pressure. The plasma generator is configured and arranged to create a neutral energy plasma on a vehicle from the matter to be ionized. The flow-restricting transfer line provides a fluid communication between the reservoir and the plasma generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Orbital ATK, Inc.
    Inventor: John S. Canham
  • Patent number: 9108282
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus of an improved cooling structure having cooling passages are provided. A method includes forming pilot holes with an electrical discharge machine (EDM) drill near a heated flow surface. The pilot holes are then shaped with a wire EDM into cooling passages having a desired shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Orbital ATK, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel P. Guinan, James B. Philpott, Henry K. Webster, Christopher Gettinger
  • Patent number: 9103641
    Abstract: A munition, such as a projectile formed of at least one reactive material. In one embodiment, the projectile includes a body portion formed of at least one reactive material composition wherein the at least one reactive material composition defines at least a portion of an exterior surface of the projectile. In other words, a portion of the reactive material may be left “unbuffered” or exposed to the barrel of a gun or weapon from which it is launched and similarly exposed to a target with which the projectile subsequently impacts. In one embodiment, the projectile may be formed with a jacket surrounding a portion of the reactive material to provide additional structural integrity. The projectile may be formed by casting or pressing the reactive material into a desired shape, or the reactive material may be extruded into a near-net shape and then machined into the desired shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Orbital ATK, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel B. Nielson, Richard M. Truitt, Benjamin N. Ashcroft
  • Patent number: 9103602
    Abstract: A two-phase heat transfer system includes an evaporator, a condenser, a vapor line, and a liquid return line. The evaporator includes a liquid inlet, a vapor outlet, and a capillary wick having a first surface adjacent the liquid inlet and a second surface adjacent the vapor outlet. The condenser includes a vapor inlet and a liquid outlet. The vapor line provides fluid communication between the vapor outlet and the vapor inlet. The liquid return line provides fluid communication between the liquid outlet and the liquid inlet. The wick is substantially free of back-conduction of energy from the second surface to the first surface due to an increase in a conduction path from the second surface to the first surface and due to suppression of nucleation of a working fluid from the second surface to the first surface to promote liquid superheat tolerance in the wick.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Orbital ATK, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward J. Kroliczek, Kimberly R. Wrenn, David A. Wolf, Sr.
  • Patent number: 9038866
    Abstract: An application tip and method for dispensing a fluid into a hole, the tip having a hollow housing or body with an open end and a closed end, the open end configured to be removably attached to and in fluid communication with a fluid source, the closed end including a nozzle having at least one passage or fluid outlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: Orbital ATK, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob L. Nelson, Mark A. Sikkink
  • Patent number: 8999098
    Abstract: A method of preparing pre-impregnated (pre-preg) material is provided. The method comprises treating a first surface of a backing with a corona discharge to enhance surface adhesion and applying the pre-preg material to the treated surface of the backing to form a pre-preg material with backing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Orbital ATK, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter G. Turner