Patents by Inventor James A. Murfree

James A. Murfree 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).

  • Patent number: 4260653
    Abstract: A process for producing a calcium chemical pump which includes reacting cium and anhydrous ammonia in a closed vessel that is cooled to a temperature below 0.degree. C. to form a solution of the calcium and anhydrous ammonia and then spraying the solution onto a rotating porous foamed substrate material in a closed container that has a vacuum pulled thereon, and the solution when sprayed causing the ammonia to flash and be evaporated and drawn off by the vacuum to cause the calcium to be deposited on the rotating porous foamed substrate material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1981
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Pasquale Martignoni, James A. Murfree, Henry A. Nappier, Orval E. Ayers, William M. Chew
  • Patent number: 4200608
    Abstract: Disclosed is a detector for fumes of hydrazine and its derivatives, methydrazine (MMH) and 1,1-dimethylhydrazine (UDMH). The detector encompasses a means for generating heat when fumes of hydrazine or its derivatives are catalytically decomposed after coming in contact with the active ingredient of the detector. The means for generating heat includes the active ingredient, iridium, which is deposited within and upon a ceramic pellet. The pellet is fitted with a thermal responsive means responsive to the generated heat. An output signal proportional to the generated heat can be interpreted by a balanced electronic bridge. The electronic bridge is balanced by preparing an unimpregnated pellet in the same way as the impregnated pellet and putting it in the circuit as a reference. The reference, being the same size and shape and prepared in the same manner, compensates for changes in temperature and other changes in the circuit, thus allowing one to zero the instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1980
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Edgar F. Croomes, James A. Murfree
  • Patent number: 4157927
    Abstract: The use of a class or compounds known as amine-boranes and their derivati in solid propellants to produce or generate hydrogen or deuterium upon combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1979
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: William M. Chew, James A. Murfree, Pasquale Martignoni, Henry A. Nappier, Orval E. Ayers
  • Patent number: 4157270
    Abstract: A catalyst bed containing alumina pellets on which an active catalyst metal selected from iridium, nickel, niobium, and molybdenium has been deposited is employed to decompose a compound selected from deuterohydrazine, deuteroammonia, hydrazine, and ammonia to yield ammonia free deuterium and nitrogen or hydrogen and nitrogen at a temperature required for immediate use in a DF or HF laser which uses F atoms as the fuel. The decomposition temperature of the catalyst bed is maintained by a hypergolic reaction produced from reacting a fuel selected from the group consisting of hydrazine, methylhydrazine, 1,2-dimethylhydrazine, and blends of the same with an oxidizer selected from the group consisting of inhibited red fuming nitric acid, dinitrogen tetroxide, chlorine trifluoride, and chlorine pentafluoride. A laser employing ammonia free decomposition products of hydrazine and ammonia produced at a temperature between about 500.degree. C. and 900.degree. C. operates at a higher power output. When NH.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1977
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1979
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Pasquale Martignoni, William M. Chew, Orval E. Ayers, James A. Murfree, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4102988
    Abstract: A cyano compound fuel selected from the group consisting of dicyanoacetylene (DCA), tetracyanoethylene (TCE), and tetracyanoethylene oxide (TCEO) when reacted with an oxidizer compound selected from the group consisting of fluorine (F.sub.2), nitrogen trifluoride (NF.sub.3), chlorine trifluoride (ClF.sub.3), chlorine pentafluoride (ClF.sub.5), and tetrafluorohydrazine (N.sub.2 F.sub.4) produces the F.sup.. atom concentration required for either HF or DF lasers. The reaction is accomplished in the presence of a diluent gas selected from nitrogen and helium. No deactivation species are among the gaseous species produced which include CF.sub.4, F.sup.. atoms, and N.sub.2 ; therefore, deactivation of the excited molecules, either HF or DF, which are responsible for the lasing in a HF or DF laser is prevented. A higher performance of the laser device can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1978
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Pasquale Martignoni, James A. Murfree, Jr., William M. Chew, Orval E. Ayers
  • Patent number: 4064225
    Abstract: Disclosed are storable solid propellant compositions based on complex metal oron compounds of the general formula M(BH.sub.4).sub.x or M(BD.sub.4).sub.x, (where M equals a metal and x equals the valence of the metal M; M is an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal; H is hydrogen, and D is deuterium) and ammonium salts of the general formula (NH.sub.4).sub.n Y or deuteroammonium salts of the general formula (ND.sub.4).sub.n Y (where Y represents an anion with a total charge of n; N is nitrogen, H is hydrogen, and D is deuterium) combined stoichiometrically or in varying molar ratios. The stoichiometric blend is employed in a method for producing hydrogen or deuterium that contains nitrogen as an inert diluent and is acceptable for use in HF/DF chemical lasers, the gas dynamic laser (GDL), or as a source to generate hydrogen containing an inert diluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1977
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: William M. Chew, Orval E. Ayers, James A. Murfree, Pasquale Martignoni
  • Patent number: 4061512
    Abstract: Disclosed are storable solid propellant compositions based on complex metal oron compounds of the general formula M(BH.sub.4).sub.x or M(BD.sub.4).sub.x, (where M equals a metal and x equals the valence of the metal M; M is an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal; H is hydrogen, and D is deuterium) and ammonium salts of the general formula (NH.sub.4).sub.n Y or deuteroammonium salts of the general formula (ND.sub.4).sub.n Y (where Y represents an anion with a total charge of n; N is nitrogen, H is hydrogen, and D is deuterium) combined stoichiometrically or in varying molar ratios. The stoichiometric blend is employed in a method for producing hydrogen or deuterium that contains nitrogen as an inert diluent and is acceptable for use in HF/DF chemical lasers, the gas dynamic laser (GDL), or as a source to generate hydrogen containing an inert diluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1977
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: William M. Chew, Orval E. Ayers, James A. Murfree, Pasquale Martignoni
  • Patent number: 3953261
    Abstract: The use of methoxylamine hydrochloride (CH.sub.3 ONH.sub.2. HCl) as an adive to exothermally decomposing liquid monopropellants such as hydrazine and hydrazine water mixtures to lower the freezing point of the monopropellants and thereby render the monopropellants usable in gas generators at very low temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1969
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1976
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: William A. Duncan, John F. Phillips, James A. Murfree, Jr., Walter W. Wharton
  • Patent number: 3953262
    Abstract: The use of methoxylamine nitrate (CH.sub.3 ONH.sub.2.NHO.sub.3) as an addve to exothermally decomposing liquid monopropellants such as hydrazine and hydrazine water mixtures to lower the freezing points of the monopropellants and thereby render the monopropellants usable in gas generators at very low temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1969
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1976
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: William A. Duncan, James A. Murfree, Jr., Pasquale Martignoni, Walter W. Wharton, John F. Phillips
  • Patent number: 3941626
    Abstract: The use of methoxylamine perchlorate (CH.sub.3 ONH.sub.2.HClO.sub.4) as an dditive to exothermally decomposing liquid monopropellants such as hydrazine and hydrazine water mixtures to maintain energetic monopropellants and at the same time lower the freezing point of the monopropellants, thereby rendering the monopropellants usable in gas generators at very low temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1970
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1976
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: John F. Phillips, James A. Murfree, Jr., Walter W. Wharton, William A. Duncan