Patents by Inventor Ned W. Ferraro

Ned W. Ferraro 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).

  • Catalytic ignitor for regenerative propellant gun
    Patent number: 5608179
    Abstract: An ignitor initiates combustion of liquid propellant in a gun by utilizing a heated catalyst onto which the liquid propellant is sprayed in a manner which mitigates the occurrence of undesirable combustion chamber oscillations. The heater heats the catalyst sufficiently to provide the activation necessary to initiate combustion of the liquid propellant sprayed thereonto. Two embodiments of the ignitor and three alternative mountings thereof within the combustion chamber are disclosed. The ignitor may also be utilized to dispose of contaminated, excess, or waste liquid propellant in a safe, controlled, simple, and reliable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administration of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Gerald E. Voecks, Ned W. Ferraro