Patents Assigned to Orbital Technologies Corporation
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Patent number: 9476399Abstract: An acoustic resonance igniter uses high-pressure helium to heat a resonance cavity so a hot surface of the resonance cavity forms a source of ignition to a combustion chamber. The resonance cavity may be round or may extend linearly to increase the size of the hot surface. The combustion chamber is cooled by arranging a feed of hydrogen and oxygen which is oxygen rich and which becomes more so when ignition occurs. A second combustion chamber receives the combustion chamber output and adds additional hydrogen through ports tangential to the wall of the second combustion chamber to enrich the fuel ratio and cool the second combustion chamber. The acoustic resonance igniter is used to ignite a large rocket engine or to form a rocket thruster.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2013Date of Patent: October 25, 2016Assignee: Orbital Technologies CorporationInventor: Scott M. Munson
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Patent number: 8966879Abstract: An acoustic resonance igniter uses gas expanding through a nozzle to form a sonic, or under-expanded supersonic, jet directed against the opening of a blind resonance cavity in a central body, setting up a high-frequency sonic resonance which heats the gas within the cavity. A pintle extends coaxially with the nozzle and injects liquid propellant into the jet. The liquid propellant ignites with the heated gas within the resonance cavity forming combustion gases. The combustion gases flow through openings in a flange which supports the resonance cavity into a combustion chamber in the same direction as the gas jet flows. The liquid propellant is injected from within the support flange in the direction of combustion gas flow to film cool the combustion chamber wall and the flange and the central body supported by the flange. The acoustic resonance igniter may form a rocket engine ignition torch or a RCS thruster.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2012Date of Patent: March 3, 2015Assignee: Orbital Technologies CorporationInventor: Scott M. Munson
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Patent number: 8882291Abstract: An LED-based lighting system is provided for aquariums, habitats, farms, terrariums, and/or enclosures for keeping animals and/or plant life and/or other enclosures. In one embodiment, the LED-based lighting system includes an LED circuit board or strip adapted to provide a particular wavelength of light, such as, red, blue, or green light. Several circuit boards or strips may be strung together end-to-end or side-to-side and, while each circuit board or strip may be adapted for providing a particular wavelength of light, the several circuit boards or strips may be adapted to provide several wavelengths of light, e.g. a mixture of spectrum. The several circuit boards, while providing different wavelengths of light, may be substantially the same in most respects except for the LED's positioned on the strip and a jumper selectively connected to provide a control signal line adapted for controlling the particular wavelength LED installed on the respective strip.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2012Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: Orbital Technologies CorporationInventors: Christopher Michael Bourget, John Cottrell Vignali, Robert Curtis Morrow
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Patent number: 8863694Abstract: An LED-based aquarium lighting system having upgradeable control system and a method thereof are provided. The system includes an LED source having a plurality of LED lights, a marine habitat for housing a marine habitat life, a control system which comprises a motherboard, a control panel, and a control module. The control module is replaceable with a new control module to provide upgrades of operational modes and features of the aquarium lighting system. Accordingly, to perform an upgrade of the control system, a user replaces the control module with a new control module by removing the control module from the motherboard and plugging the new control module in the motherboard, thereby readily making upgrades of operational modes and features of the aquarium lighting system without requiring the entire aquarium lighting system be replaced.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2011Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Orbital Technologies CorporationInventors: Christopher Michael Bourget, Ronald J. Anderson, Barry Arneson
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Patent number: 8776904Abstract: A firefighting apparatus on a small all-terrain utility vehicle has a U-shaped water tank closely spaced from the driver's cab. A reel for a high-pressure hose is mounted in the U of the water tank. A high-pressure engine driven pump is connected to the reel and a high-pressure hose through a water management system, which directs water from the water tank to the pump, and from the pump to the hose. The pump has a pressure valve which sets the engine idle when the high-pressure water nozzle is closed. A pressure unloader valve recirculates water from the pump outlet to the pump inlet when the nozzle is closed. A check valve is used between the water tank and a point where water recirculates to the pump. A prefilter is connected between the check valve and the water tank.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2009Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Orbital Technologies CorporationInventor: Rory L. Groonwald
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Patent number: 8763682Abstract: A multi-layer antimicrobial hydrophilic coating is applied to a substrate of anodized aluminum, although other materials may form the substrate. A silver layer is sputtered onto a thoroughly clean anodized surface of the aluminum to about 400 nm thickness. A layer of crosslinked, silicon-based macromolecular structure about 10 nm thickness overlies the silver layer, and the outermost surface of the layer of crosslinked, silicon-based macromolecular structure is hydroxide terminated to produce a hydrophilic surface with a water drop contact angle of less than 10°. The coated substrate may be one of multiple fins in a condensing heat exchanger for use in the microgravity of space, which has narrow channels defined between angled fins such that the surface tension of condensed water moves water by capillary flow to a central location where it is pumped to storage. The antimicrobial coating prevents obstruction of the capillary passages.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2008Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Orbital Technologies CorporationInventors: Christopher M. Thomas, Yonghui Ma
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Publication number: 20130239475Abstract: A method and apparatus of lighting a marine habitat for growth utilizing an LED light system. The light system includes an LED light source, a power supply for such light source and a controller for controlling the activation status and the intensity of the LED light source.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2013Publication date: September 19, 2013Applicant: Orbital Technologies CorporationInventors: Thomas M. Crabb, Robert C. Marrow, Jeffrey C. Emmerich, Marty Gustafson
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Patent number: 8388163Abstract: A method and apparatus of lighting a marine habitat for growth utilizing an LED light system. The light system includes an LED light source, a power supply for such light source and a controller for controlling the activation status and the intensity of the LED light source.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2011Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Assignee: Orbital Technologies CorporationInventors: Thomas M. Crabb, Robert C. Morrow, Jeffrey C. Emmerich, Marty Gustafson
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Publication number: 20120043097Abstract: A firefighting apparatus on a small all-terrain utility vehicle has a U-shaped water tank closely spaced from the driver's cab. A reel for a high-pressure hose is mounted in the U of the water tank. A high-pressure engine driven pump is connected to the reel and a high-pressure hose through a water management system, which directs water from the water tank to the pump, and from the pump to the hose. The pump has a pressure valve which sets the engine idle when the high-pressure water nozzle is closed. A pressure unloader valve recirculates water from the pump outlet to the pump inlet when the nozzle is closed. A check valve is used between the water tank and a point where water recirculates to the pump. A prefilter is connected between the check valve and the water tank.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2009Publication date: February 23, 2012Applicant: ORBITAL TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventor: Rory L. Groonwald
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Patent number: 8066796Abstract: A method of creating simulated agglutinate particles by applying a heat source sufficient to partially melt a raw material is provided. The raw material is preferably any lunar soil simulant, crushed mineral, mixture of crushed minerals, or similar material, and the heat source creates localized heating of the raw material.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2008Date of Patent: November 29, 2011Assignee: Orbital Technologies CorporationInventors: Robert J. Gustafson, Marty A. Gustafson, Brant C. White
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Patent number: 7992648Abstract: A firefighting apparatus on a small all-terrain utility vehicle has a U-shaped water tank closely spaced from the driver's cab. A reel for a high-pressure hose is mounted in the U of the water tank. A high-pressure engine driven pump is connected to the reel and a high-pressure hose through a water management system, which directs water from the water tank to the pump, and from the pump to the hose. The pump has a pressure valve which sets the engine idle when the high-pressure water nozzle is closed. A pressure unloader valve recirculates water from the pump outlet to the pump inlet when the nozzle is closed. A check valve is used between the water tank and a point where water recirculates to the pump. A prefilter is connected between the check valve and the water tank.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2009Date of Patent: August 9, 2011Assignee: Orbital Technologies CorporationInventor: Rory L. Groonwald
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Patent number: 7913499Abstract: A heat exchanger having a plurality of heat exchanging aluminum fins with hydrophilic condensing surfaces which are stacked and clamped between two cold plates. The cold plates are aligned radially along a plane extending through the axis of a cylindrical duct and hold the stacked and clamped portions of the heat exchanging fins along the axis of the cylindrical duct. The fins extend outwardly from the clamped portions along approximately radial planes. The spacing between fins is symmetric about the cold plates, and are somewhat more closely spaced as the angle they make with the cold plates approaches 90°. Passageways extend through the fins between vertex spaces which provide capillary storage and communicate with passageways formed in the stacked and clamped portions of the fins, which communicate with water drains connected to a pump externally to the duct. Water with no entrained air is drawn from the capillary spaces.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2008Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: Orbital Technologies CorporationInventors: Christopher M. Thomas, Yonghui Ma, Andrew North, Mark M. Weislogel
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Patent number: 7878674Abstract: A method and apparatus of lighting a marine habitat for growth utilizing an LED light system. The light system includes an LED light source, a power supply for such light source and a controller for controlling the activation status and the intensity of the LED light source.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2009Date of Patent: February 1, 2011Assignee: Orbital Technologies CorporationInventors: Thomas M. Crabb, Robert C. Morrow, Jeffrey C. Emmerich, Marty Gustafson
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Patent number: 7845814Abstract: A method and apparatus of lighting a marine habitat for growth utilizing an LED light system. The light system includes an LED light source, a power supply for such light source and a controller for controlling the activation status and the intensity of the LED light source.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2008Date of Patent: December 7, 2010Assignee: Orbital Technologies CorporationInventors: Thomas M. Crabb, Robert C. Morrow, Jeffrey C. Emmerich, Marty Gustafson
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Patent number: 7836964Abstract: An all-terrain fire fighting apparatus has a high power-to-weight ratio, a hydraulic skid steer drive system, a drive-by-wire control system, a proportionally joystick controlled nozzle turret, and a 1500 psi foam injecting water supply system which supplies the nozzle turret and a high-pressure hose mounted on a reel. To dissipate heat load from the fire fighting apparatus systems, the fire fighting apparatus cooling system employs a cooling shroud in the form of a box with multiple system radiators stacked on one face of the box and the remaining faces containing exhaust fans mounted to draw air out of the box and through the stacked heat exchangers. The fire fighting apparatus is capable of being operated remotely by means of onboard GPS, real-time imaging, and inputs to the joystick controller and fire fighting apparatus drive-by-wire system.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2008Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: Orbital Technologies CorporationInventors: Rory L. Groonwald, Kristofor S. Cozart
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Publication number: 20090314477Abstract: A heat exchanger having a plurality of heat exchanging aluminum fins with hydrophilic condensing surfaces which are stacked and clamped between two cold plates. The cold plates are aligned radially along a plane extending through the axis of a cylindrical duct and hold the stacked and clamped portions of the heat exchanging fins along the axis of the cylindrical duct. The fins extend outwardly from the clamped portions along approximately radial planes. The spacing between fins is symmetric about the cold plates, and are somewhat more closely spaced as the angle they make with the cold plates approaches 90°. Passageways extend through the fins between vertex spaces which provide capillary storage and communicate with passageways formed in the stacked and clamped portions of the fins, which communicate with water drains connected to a pump externally to the duct. Water with no entrained air is drawn from the capillary spaces.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2008Publication date: December 24, 2009Applicant: ORBITAL TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATIONInventors: Christopher M. Thomas, Yonghui Ma, Andrew North, Mark M. Weislogel
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Patent number: 6865878Abstract: A hybrid rocket engine and a method for propelling a rocket utilizing a vortex flow field. The flow field includes an outer fluid vortex spiraling toward a closed end of the flow field generating apparatus and an inner fluid vortex substantially concentric with the outer vortex spiraling away from the closed end and toward an outlet opening in which the inner vortex spirals in the same direction as the outer vortex, but in the opposite axial direction. The invention also relates to a rocket propulsion system utilizing the flow field in which the propulsion system includes a combustion chamber with a fuel source and an oxidizer source that deliver the said fuel and said oxidizer to the said outer and inner vortexes in a manner to support a combustion process while flowing along the flow field.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2003Date of Patent: March 15, 2005Assignee: Orbital Technologies CorporationInventors: William H. Knuth, Martin J. Chiaverini, Daniel J. Gramer
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Patent number: 6601380Abstract: A hybrid rocket engine and a method for propelling a rocket utilizing a vortex flow field. The flow field includes an outer fluid vortex spiraling toward a closed end of the flow field generating apparatus and an inner fluid vortex substantially concentric with the outer vortex spiraling away from the closed end and toward an outlet opening in which the inner vortex spirals in the same direction as the outer vortex, but in the opposite axial direction. The invention also relates to a rocket propulsion system utilizing the flow field in which the propulsion system includes a combustion chamber with a fuel source and an oxidizer source that deliver the said fuel and said oxidizer to the said outer and inner vortexes in a manner to support a combustion process while flowing along the flow field.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2001Date of Patent: August 5, 2003Assignee: Orbital Technologies CorporationInventors: William H. Knuth, Martin J. Chiaverini, Daniel J. Gramer
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Patent number: 6590403Abstract: A material regression sensor and a method of measuring the regression of a material in which the regression sensor includes spaced electrically conductive legs, and electrically conductive sensor element position between the legs and measurement leads electrically connected with the first and second legs.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2001Date of Patent: July 8, 2003Assignee: Orbital Technologies CorporationInventors: Daniel J. Gramer, Thomas J. Taagen
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Patent number: 6561309Abstract: A gas flow generator for use in a position control apparatus having an oscillating motion driver, a chamber having a side wall extending outwardly from the oscillatory motion generating surface of the driver, a distal end wall spaced from the driver and joined with the side wall, and one or more gas flow orifices provided in the end wall.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2000Date of Patent: May 13, 2003Assignee: Orbital Technologies CorporationInventors: Eric E. Rice, Robert J. Gustafson