Patents by Inventor Viral Panchal
Viral Panchal 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).
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Patent number: 11780141Abstract: The present invention is directed to a continuous process for producing a foamable celluloid product by introducing a solid component (comprising nitrocellulose, chemical blowing agent (CBA), stabilizer and alcohol) and a liquid component (comprising camphor and acetone) into a mixer/devolatilizer machine where the chamber is under atmospheric pressure and having significant overhead space. The chamber is comprised of two zones wherein the first zone has a temperature that is less than the second zone and at least one rotor comprising hollow, temperature-controlled arms having a tilted angle affixed to the rotors. The rotors of the mixer/devolatilizer machine act to mix the solid and liquid components under lower shearing forces, lower mechanical stress and longer residence times than those used by twin-screw extruders.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2019Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the ArmyInventors: Nikolaos Ioannidis, Zohar Ophir, Viral Panchal, Philip Abbate, Francis Sullivan, Ming Wan Young, Costas G. Gogos
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Patent number: 11287229Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for making combustible foam celluloid munition parts having high aspect ratios, different densities or having an insert embedded into the foam celluloid munition part. The process for making such foam celluloid munition part requires pre-soaking dry particles of celluloid, placing the celluloid particles into a munition part mold, exposing the celluloid particles to high heat and pressure until the celluloid particles expand and fuse into the shape of the mold. Varying the density or the size of the celluloid particles used in the process produces munition parts having different densities. In addition, the placement of inserts into the particles prior to exposure to high heat and pressure produces munition parts having inserts that are useful for identification and tracking of such parts.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2020Date of Patent: March 29, 2022Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the ArmyInventors: Viral Panchal, Chong Peng, Dale Conti, Ming-Wan Young, Tianyi Huang
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Patent number: 11041701Abstract: The present invention is directed to composite munition cases that burn without significant residue, rugged enough to withstand rough handling, and provides for additional burn rate control over current state of the art metal and combustible munition cases. The munition cases disclose herein utilizes combustible composite materials having an inner and outer walls connected by support structures. The support structures can be radial walls or honeycomb shaped cells. In another embodiment wedge elements assembled into a cylindrical munition case is also proposed. Exemplary composite materials include felted fiber, foam celluloid and polystyrene.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2019Date of Patent: June 22, 2021Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the ArmyInventors: Leon Moy, Viral Panchal, Pasquale Carlucci
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Patent number: 10969206Abstract: A weapon system effectively, efficiently and safely transmits high energy radio frequency energy into the confines of the breech environment to initiate propelling charges. Legacy components are leveraged, along with advanced manufacturing techniques, to create antenna structures which transmit the radio frequency energy throughout the breech to initiate radio frequency-based primers.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2019Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: U.S. Government as Represented by the Secretary of the ArmyInventors: Gregory Burke, Viral Panchal, James Zunino, Stephen Bartolucci, Daniel Schmidt, Giuseppe Di Benedetto
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Patent number: 10859358Abstract: An ignition system for energetics including artillery charges includes a radio frequency transmitter and a radio frequency igniter. The radio frequency igniter receives and converts radio frequency energy into heat or electrical energy for the purpose of igniting energetics, such as propellants or pyrotechnics. The radio frequency igniter may be applied to the exterior of the energetic container or may be integral to the container.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2018Date of Patent: December 8, 2020Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the ArmyInventors: Gregory Burke, John Hirlinger, Thomas DeVoe, Christopher Csernica, Viral Panchal, Mohamed Elalem
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Patent number: 10775141Abstract: An insensitive munition (IM) feature for a lightweight LW 30 MM ammunition projectile utilizing combustible vent plugs for the projectile, which plugs feature an exclusively nitrocellulose material sheet fused to a metal foil sheet, to plug vent holes in the projectile.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2019Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the ArmyInventors: Leon Moy, Viral Panchal, Pasquale Carlucci
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Patent number: 10711070Abstract: A wet chemistry method for preparing spherical celluloid beads by mixing a water-based suspension solution and a solvent based celluloid solution that is immiscible in the suspension solution. The two combined solutions create an “oil-in-water” type mixture where the dispersed phase consists of celluloid dissolved in solvent and co-solvent that is suspended in the continuous water phase. Agitation and removal of the solvent and co-solvent mixture produces spherical shaped celluloid beads.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2017Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the ArmyInventors: Subhash Patel, Viral Panchal, Ming-Wan Young
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Patent number: 10611064Abstract: There is provided a mold apparatus and process whereby a warhead body can be fabricated in a single over molding process which may also include therein metal fragments, metal balls, obturators, boat tails and other aerodynamic features, metal rings and/or threads. Other molds and processes are presented whereby a warhead body may be over molded in a polymer matrix in sequential steps which may include adding therein metal balls, then fragments, and any of obturators, boat tails and other aerodynamic features, metal rings and/or threads, as desired. Still another process for fabricating a warhead body is presented whereby an insert section is first preloaded with metal fragments and covered with a skin, then the insert section is inserted into an oversized area in a mold, and polymer is then loaded around the insert section to form a unitary warhead body.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2019Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the ArmyInventors: Daniel Lee Prillaman, Leon Moy, Viral Panchal, Richard Wu, Patrick Mark, Kevin Mulligan, Jesse Sunderland, James Grassi, Jason Wasserman
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Patent number: 10317182Abstract: A safety fuze for use in military and commercial applications, includes a fuze body that is attached to a trigger mechanism, an energetic train contained within the fuze body, and a non-energetic fuze delay mixture that is formed in a rod form so that it can dropped inside the fuze body, without modification to the other components of the safety fuze. Preferably, the non-energetic fuze delay mixture is made of foamed celluloid.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2015Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the ArmyInventors: Mohamed Elalem, Philip Abbate, Vincent Gonsalves, Matthew P. Evangelisti, John W. Grassia, Steve Kotefski, Nikola Kotefski, Ming-Wan Young, Fei Shen, Chong Peng, Linjie Zhu, Viral Panchal
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Patent number: 10252954Abstract: The present invention is directed to propellant grains having multiple layers consisting of an outer, slow burning, layer composition and an inner, fast burning, layer with desirable progressivity burn rates. The outer, slow burning, layer comprising a first energetic material, a first plasticizer and a first binder and an inner, fast burning, layer comprising a second energetic material, and the same plasticizer as the outer layer, and a second binder. The compositions in the propellant grain provided herein provides for a burn rate energy differential between the outer, slow burning, layer and inner, fast burning, layer of at least 2.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2017Date of Patent: April 9, 2019Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the ArmyInventors: Dongkyun Park, Joseph Laquidara, Viral Panchal, Ryan Ordemann, Carlton Adam, Robin Crownover
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Patent number: 10107607Abstract: An ignition system for energetics including artillery charges includes a radio frequency transmitter and a radio frequency igniter. The radio frequency ignitor receives and converts radio frequency energy into heat or electrical energy for the purpose of igniting energetics, such as propellants or pyrotechnics. The radio frequency igniter may be applied to the exterior of the energetic container or may be integral to the container.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2017Date of Patent: October 23, 2018Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the ArmyInventors: Gregory C. Burke, John Hirlinger, Thomas DeVoe, Christopher Csernica, Viral Panchal
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Patent number: 9625242Abstract: A modular artillery charge system module includes a central igniter container and cap end and body end igniter containers fixed to the central igniter container. The central igniter container is a rigid, longitudinal tube with opposing ends. The end igniter containers are fixed to the opposing ends of the central igniter container. Each end igniter container includes a large container portion and a small container portion that extends from the large container portion toward the central igniter container. The central igniter container and end igniter containers are made of a rigid material, such as foamed celluloid.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2015Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the ArmyInventors: Mohamed Elalem, Gregory C. Burke, Viral Panchal, Philip Abbate, Chong Peng, Fei Shen
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Patent number: 8696838Abstract: A method of manufacture of foamed celluloid molded products, involving three steps for the manufacture of higher density (0.7 to 1.25 gm/cc) foamed celluloid products or simple geometry lower density (0.2 to 0.7 gm/cc) foamed celluloid products, and four steps for the manufacture of lower density foamed celluloid products of any geometry. The three step process involving: (1) providing small, uniform, pieces of celluloid; (2) presoaking the pieces in a physical blowing agent (PBA) under pressure; and (3) foaming at raised temperature a controlled quantity of the presoaked pieces in a mold—to obtain the desired shape and density. For a lower density foamed celluloid product, of any moldable geometry, the steps are to: (1) small pieces of celluloid, that (2) have been presoaked in a PBA, are (3) pre-expanded to an intermediate density, and then (4) foam the desired lower density foamed product in a mold at raised temperature.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2011Date of Patent: April 15, 2014Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the ArmyInventors: Niloufar Faridi, Linjie Zhu, Ming-Wan Young, Costas G. Gogos, Fei Shen, Elbert Caravaca, Mohamed Elalem, Viral Panchal, Dale Conti