Patents by Inventor Norman C. Elfer

Norman C. Elfer 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).

  • High performance, thin metal lined, composite overwrapped pressure vessel
    Patent number: 6401963
    Abstract: An innovative technology for composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs) has been developed which significantly increases cost effectiveness, increases reliability, and reduces weight over state-of-the-art COPVs. This technology combines an innovative thin liner made of a metal having a high modulus of elasticity and a high ductility, a high-performance composite overwrap and a high-performance film adhesive at the overwrap/liner interface. The metal liner can be fabricated from readily available titanium alloy sheet and plate using a combination of spin forming and machining to fabricate components and electron-beam welding for tank assembly. The composite overwrap is filament-wound onto an adhesive-covered titanium liner and the overwrap and adhesive are co-cured in an oven to yield an integrated tank structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Ellis C. Seal, Norman C. Elfer, Torben Brandt, Robert O. Edman
  • High performance, thin metal lined, composite overwrapped pressure vessel
    Patent number: 5822838
    Abstract: An innovative technology for composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs) has been developed which significantly increases cost effectiveness, increases reliability, and reduces weight over state-of-the-art COPVs. This technology combines an innovative thin liner made of a metal having a high modulus of elasticity and a high ductility, a high-performance composite overwrap and a high-performance film adhesive at the overwrap/liner interface. The metal liner can be fabricated from readily available titanium alloy sheet and plate using a combination of spin forming and machining to fabricate components and electron-beam welding for tank assembly. The composite overwrap is filament-wound onto an adhesive-covered titanium liner and the overwrap and adhesive are co-cured in an oven to yield an integrated tank structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Ellis C. Seal, Norman C. Elfer
  • High performance, thin metal lined, composite overwrapped pressure vessel
    Patent number: RE38433
    Abstract: An innovative technology for composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs) has been developed which significantly increases cost effectiveness, increases reliability, and reduces weight over state-of-the-art COPVs. This technology combines an innovative thin liner made of a metal having a high modulus of elasticity and a high ductility, a high-performance composite overwrap and a high-performance film adhesive at the overwrap/liner interface. The metal liner can be fabricated from readily available titanium alloy sheet and plate using a combination of spin forming and machining to fabricate components and electron-beam welding for tank assembly. The composite overwrap is filament-wound onto an adhesive-covered titanium liner and the overwrap and adhesive are co-cured in an oven to yield an integrated tank structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Ellis C. Seal, Norman C. Elfer, Torben Brandt, Robert O. Edman