Patents by Inventor Charles Grix

Charles Grix has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20150047526
    Abstract: Apparatus for providing electrically initiated and/or controlled combustion of electrically ignitable propellants is provided. In one example, the apparatus includes a volume of electrically ignitable propellant (liquid and/or gas) capable of self sustaining combustion, and electrodes operable to ignite the propellant. The apparatus may further include a power supply and controller in electrical communication with the electrodes for supplying a potential across the electrodes to initiate combustion of the propellant and/or control the rate of combustion of the propellant. Various configurations and geometries of the propellant, electrodes, and apparatus are possible. In one example, the electrodes are supplied a direct current, which causes combustion of the propellant at the positive electrode. In another example, the electrodes are supplied an alternating current, which initiates combustion of the propellant at both electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Wayne N. SAWKA, Charles GRIX
  • Patent number: 8857338
    Abstract: Apparatus for providing electrically initiated and/or controlled combustion of electrically ignitable propellants is provided. In one example, the apparatus includes a volume of electrically ignitable propellant (liquid and/or gas) capable of self sustaining combustion, and electrodes operable to ignite the propellant. The apparatus may further include a power supply and controller in electrical communication with the electrodes for supplying a potential across the electrodes to initiate combustion of the propellant and/or control the rate of combustion of the propellant. Various configurations and geometries of the propellant, electrodes, and apparatus are possible. In one example, the electrodes are supplied a direct current, which causes combustion of the propellant at the positive electrode. In another example, the electrodes are supplied an alternating current, which initiates combustion of the propellant at both electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Digital Solid State Propulsion LLC
    Inventors: Wayne N. Sawka, Charles Grix
  • Patent number: 8617327
    Abstract: The present invention is an electrically controlled propellant comprising a binder, an oxidizer, and a cross-linking agent. The boric acid (the cross-linking agent) has been found to function as a cross-linking agent for the high molecular binder used to make the propellant, thereby improving the composition's ability to withstand combustion without melting. The present invention also may include 5-aminotetrazole (5-ATZ) as a stability-enhancing additive. The binder of the present invention may include polyvinylalcohol (PVA) and/or the co-polymer of polyvinylalcohol/polyvinylamine nitrate (PVA/PVAN).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Digital Solid State Propulsion LLC
    Inventors: Arthur Katzakian, Charles Grix
  • Patent number: 8317952
    Abstract: The present invention is an electrically controlled propellant comprising a binder, an oxidizer, and a cross-linking agent. The boric acid (the cross-linking agent) has been found to function as a cross-linking agent for the high molecular binder used to make the propellant, thereby improving the composition's ability to withstand combustion without melting. The present invention also may include 5-aminotetrazole (5-ATZ) as a stability-enhancing additive. The binder of the present invention may include polyvinylalcohol (PVA) and/or the co-polymer of polyvinylalcohol/polyvinylamine nitrate (PVA/PVAN).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Digital Solid State Propulsion, LLC
    Inventors: Arthur Katzakian, Charles Grix
  • Publication number: 20120103479
    Abstract: The present invention is an electrically controlled propellant comprising a binder, an oxidizer, and a cross-linking agent. The boric acid (the cross-linking agent) has been found to function as a cross-linking agent for the high molecular binder used to make the propellant, thereby improving the composition's ability to withstand combustion without melting. The present invention also may include 5-aminotetrazole (5-ATZ) as a stability-enhancing additive. The binder of the present invention may include polyvinylalcohol (PVA) and/or the co-polymer of polyvinylalcohol/polyvinylamine nitrate (PVA/PVAN).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2007
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: Arthur Katzakian, Charles Grix
  • Publication number: 20110259230
    Abstract: Apparatus for providing electrically initiated and/or controlled combustion of electrically ignitable propellants is provided. In one example, the apparatus includes a volume of electrically ignitable propellant (liquid and/or gas) capable of self sustaining combustion, and electrodes operable to ignite the propellant. The apparatus may further include a power supply and controller in electrical communication with the electrodes for supplying a potential across the electrodes to initiate combustion of the propellant and/or control the rate of combustion of the propellant. Various configurations and geometries of the propellant, electrodes, and apparatus are possible. In one example, the electrodes are supplied a direct current, which causes combustion of the propellant at the positive electrode. In another example, the electrodes are supplied an alternating current, which initiates combustion of the propellant at both electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventors: Wayne N. Sawka, Charles Grix
  • Publication number: 20060011276
    Abstract: An electrically controlled propellant comprising an ionomer oxidizer polymer binder, an oxidizer mix including at least one oxidizer salt and at least one eutectic material, and a mobile phase comprising at least one ionic liquid is disclosed. The PVAN polymer in the present invention may be of medium (>100,000) to high molecular weight (<1,000,000). The present invention also may include the controlled cross-linking of the polymer using epoxy resins, the use of moisture barrier coating, the addition of an energetic combustion additives such as Chromium III and polyethylene glycol polymer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2003
    Publication date: January 19, 2006
    Inventors: Charles Grix, Arthur Katzakian, Donald McGehee
  • Patent number: 5451277
    Abstract: Solid energetic compositions are prepared from powdered solid components such as metallic aluminum fuel and liquid oxidizers by forming a coating of polyvinyl alcohol over the powdered solid by precipitation from a solution of polyvinyl acetate, and combining the coated particles with liquid oxidizer which will permeate and swell the particle coating, causing the particles to agglomerate into a solid rubbery mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1995
    Assignee: Aerojet-General Corporation
    Inventors: Arthur Katzakian, Charles Grix, George M. Clark