Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Harry B. Field
  • Variable expansion ratio reaction engine
    Patent number: 4707981
    Abstract: A reaction engine thrust chamber 12 is provided having non-mechanical means for varying the flow area of the rocket nozzle contingent upon the pressure environment, flight scenario and throttling demands. The non-mechanical means include a plurality of circumferentially and axially spaced injection ports 24 in cooperative relationship with control means 40 for selectively controlling a flow of fluid into the rocket nozzle throat section 18 of the thrust chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1987
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventor: William R. Wagner
  • Shrouded inducer pump
    Patent number: 4708584
    Abstract: An improvement in a pump including a shrouded inducer, the improvement comprising providing means for collecting recirculation flow about said inducer and directing it through a fluid permeable wall member to remove any tangential velocity components from the recirculation flow. The recirculation flow, free of tangential velocity components, is then reintroduced into the fluid to be pumped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1987
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventor: Sen Y. Meng
  • Thermal regenerative injector
    Patent number: 4707982
    Abstract: A thermal regenerative injector 10 for a rocket engine that transfers heat from a fuel after turbine operation to the fuel prior to turbine operation, thereby providing a higher chamber pressure and lower fuel pump pressure. The injector 10 has a plurality of elements 44 having concentric channels 78, 80, and 82 separated by sleeves 66, 68, and 70, the fuels flowing therethrough, heat being transferred through a common middle sleeve 68, The cold fuel, after being so heated, is heated further in the typical fashion of routing it through the combustion zone and nozzle cooling jackets 16 and 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1987
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventor: William R. Wagner
  • Flexure disc sealed integral bipropellant valve and injector valve assembly
    Patent number: 4707983
    Abstract: A valve assembly (10) is provided in which a piston assembly (36) functions to control the introduction and expulsion of a fluid from external and internal manifolds (28,30) defined by the valve assembly housing (12) and the piston assembly. Extensions (42,44,46) provided with flexible disc seals (48) depend from a crown portion (40) of the piston assembly. The seals interface with a T-shaped annular partition (62) having a raised lip (68) in the base (66). The raised lip interfaces with the seals to close off fluid exit ports (80) in the base of the valve assembly housing. When functioned, the housing assembly and piston cause separation of the lip and disc allowing the flow of fluid through the valve assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1987
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventor: Willard A. Gillon, Jr.
  • Extendible rocket-engine nozzle
    Patent number: 4706886
    Abstract: Nozzle-extending apparatus for a rocket engine of a space vehicle formed by placing a telescoping, extendible sleeve section of nozzle around a short fixed section of nozzle in a rocket engine. The extendible nozzle section (ENS) is extended by inflating a main inflatable pressure vessel (MIV), which is located within the fixed section of nozzle. The expansion of the pressure vessel drives the extendible section rearward to the end of the fixed nozzle section (FNS) where it is locked into place. A secondary inflatable pressure vessel (SIV) is then inflated to activate devices which decouple the MIV from the nozzles and allow the MIV to pressurize the engine cavity, thus jettisoning the MIV from the extended nozzle volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1987
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventor: Premysl Jencek
  • Fluid-cooled channel construction
    Patent number: 4707225
    Abstract: A corrosion-resistant cooling channel construction for the flow of a corrosive cooling medium therethrough such as may be utilized in a wall of a combustion chamber. The formation of the cooling channel is accomplished by controlled sequential electrodeposition of selected metals onto a wall substrate of the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1987
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventors: Frederick T. Schuler, Randolph Flores
  • Duct closure
    Patent number: 4707323
    Abstract: A closure for an inclined duct having an open upper end and defining downwardly extending passageway. The closure includes a cap for sealing engagement with the open upper end of the duct. Associated with the cap are an array of vertically aligned plug members, each of which has a cross-sectional area substantially conforming to the cross-sectional area of the passageway at least adjacent the upper end of the passageway. The plug members are interconnected in a manner to provide for free movement only in the plane in which the duct is inclined. The uppermost plug member is attached to the cap means and the cap means is in turn connected to a hoist means which is located directly over the open end of the duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1987
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventor: Kennison L. Vowell
  • 1,9-difluoro-1,1,3,5,7,9,9-octanitro-3,7-diazanonane and method of preparation thereof
    Patent number: 4701557
    Abstract: 1,9-Difluoro-1,1,3,5,5,7,9,9-octanitro-3,7-diazanonane, C.sub.7 H.sub.8 F.sub.2 N.sub.10 O.sub.16, is disclosed as a new energetic oxidizer for solid propellants. A method for producing the new oxidizer is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1987
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventors: Milton B. Frankel, Edward F. Witucki
  • Efficiency enhanced free electron laser
    Patent number: 4698815
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for enhancing the efficiency of a free electron laser, (10). A plurality of electrodes, (28) are imbedded in an electrically insulating vacuum tube, (18) enclosing the electron beam, (14) and its copropagating electromagnetic wave. A variable computer controlled high voltage d.c. power supply, (29) is connected to the electrodes, (28) for energizing the electrodes, (28) at saturation indicated by detectors, (30) thereby converting d.c. electric potential to electromagnetic radiation without gain degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1987
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventors: Anup Bhowmik, Wayne A. McMullin
  • Electromagnetic launcher assembly
    Patent number: 4694729
    Abstract: An electromagnetic launcher assembly 10 includes a magnetohydrodynamic power generator 12 for generating electrical energy. The energy is stored in an inductor 26 which is provided with current directing means 30 for selectively routing an electrical charge to activate a rail gun assembly 28 which initiates the firing of a projectile 32 out of the rail gun assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1987
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventor: James R. Hall
  • Method for the selective separation of gases
    Patent number: 4695296
    Abstract: A method for the selective removal of an oxide of carbon from a gas stream containing the same and a halogen which comprises contacting such a gas stream with a water-free, prehalogenated molecular sieve having a pore size of at least 4 angstroms whereby the oxide of carbon is selectively retained by the sieve without retention of the halogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1987
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventor: Karl O. Christe
  • Steam generator support system
    Patent number: 4688628
    Abstract: A support system for connection to an outer surface of a J-shaped steam generator for use with a nuclear reactor or other liquid metal cooled power source. The J-shaped steam generator is mounted with the bent portion at the bottom. An arrangement of elongated rod members provides both horizontal and vertical support for the steam generator. The rod members are interconnected to the steam generator assembly and a support structure in a manner which provides for thermal distortion of the steam generator without the transfer of bending moments to the support structure and in a like manner substantially minimizes forces being transferred between the support structure and the steam generator as a result of seismic disturbances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1987
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventor: James E. Moldenhauer
  • Method for magnesium sulfate recovery
    Patent number: 4689178
    Abstract: A method of obtaining magnesium sulfate substantially free from radioactive uranium from a slag containing the same and having a radioactivity level of at least about 7000 pCi/gm. The slag is ground to a particle size of about 200 microns or less. The ground slag is then contacted with a concentrated sulfuric acid under certain prescribed conditions to produce a liquid product and a solid product. The particulate solid product and a minor amount of the liquid is then treated to produce a solid residue consisting essentially of magnesium sulfate substantially free of uranium and having a residual radioactivity level of less than 1000 pCi/gm. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, a catalyst and an oxidizing agent are used during the initial acid treatment and a final solid residue has a radioactivity level of less than about 50 pCi/gm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1987
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventors: Richard L. Gay, LeRoy F. Grantham
  • Preventing stress corrosion cracking of bearings
    Patent number: 4687556
    Abstract: A method of inhibiting stress corrosion cracking of a bearing 10 of the type installed on a shaft with an interference fit. The surface of the inner ring 16 is shot peened at least at and near the junctures 28,30 of the endwalls 22,24 with cylindrical inner surface 26. The shot peening is performed with sufficient intensity to produce residual compressive stress which offsets at least a portion of the tensile stress resulting from the installation interference fit. The shot peened surface is then coated with a thin metallic material. Finally, the inner bearing ring 16 is baked to remove hydrogen resulting from the coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1987
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventors: Robert F. Sutton, Kathleen E. Kirkham
  • Gasification of black liquor
    Patent number: 4682985
    Abstract: A concentrated aqueous black liquor containing carbonaceous material and alkali metal sulfur compounds is treated in a gasifier vessel containing a relatively shallow molten salt pool at its bottom to form a combustible gas and a sulfide-rich melt. The gasifier vessel, which is preferably pressurized, has a black liquor drying zone at its upper part, a black liquor solids gasification zone located below the drying zone, and a molten salt sulfur reduction zone which comprises the molten salt pool. A first portion of an oxygen-containing gas is introduced into the gas space in the gasification zone immediatley above the molten salt pool. The remainder of the oxygen-containing gas is introduced into the molten salt pool in an amount sufficient to cause gasification of carbonaceous material entering the pool from the gasification zone but not sufficient to create oxidizing conditions in the pool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1987
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventor: Arthur L. Kohl
  • Process for the production of advanced NF.sub.4.sup.+ salts
    Patent number: 4683129
    Abstract: An improved process for the production of advanced NF.sub.4.sup.+ salts is described utilizing graphite salts as an HF and oxidizer resistant anion exchange medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1987
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventor: Karl O. Christe
  • Azido derivatives of pentaerythritol
    Patent number: 4683086
    Abstract: Diazido derivatives of pentaerythritol are prepared by reacting 3,3-bis(azidomethyl) oxetane with inorganic acids such as hydrobromic or nitric acid. The resulting diazido monobromide can be reacted with sodium azide to produce pentaerythritol triazide which can be subsequently nitrated to pentaerythritol triazido mononitrate. The pentaerythritol diazido mononitrate produced by the reaction of nitric acid with the above oxetane can be further nitrated with nitric acid to produce pentaerythritol diazido dinitrate. These diazido and triazido derivatives of pentaerythritol can be utilized as energetic azido plasticizers per se or can serve as intermediates for the production of such plasticizers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1987
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventors: Milton B. Frankel, Edgar R. Wilson
  • Polyazido esters
    Patent number: 4683085
    Abstract: Energetic plasticizers comprising 4,4,4-trinitrobutyryl and 1,3,5-benzene tricarboxylic acid esters of pentaerythritol triazide and pentaerythritol diazido mononitrate, prepared by reacting the appropriate acid chloride, e.g. 4,4,4-trinitrobutyryl chloride, with pentaerythritol triazide or pentaerythritol diazido mononitrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1987
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventors: Milton B. Frankel, Edgar R. Wilson
  • Turbocompressor downhole steam-generating system
    Patent number: 4682471
    Abstract: A downhole steam-generating system in which fuel and compressed air from an air compressor unit 20 are fed to a steam generator 22. Steam and/or combustion products are fed to the turbine 24 from the steam generator 22 and the turbine 24 is used to mechanically drive the air compressor unit 20. After leaving the turbine 24, the turbine output may be scrubbed and the combustion products may be either passed down the borehole with the steam or may be discharged into the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1987
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventor: William R. Wagner
  • Labyrinthine turbine-rotor-blade tip seal
    Patent number: 4682933
    Abstract: Means for sealing the tip 18 of a rotor turbine blade 10 against tip leakage flow comprising a multiplicity of recesses 30 formed in the surface of the tip 18. The recesses 30 are preferably formed in a labyrinthine or slaggered pattern which interposes at least one recess 30 in every leakage flow path across the tip 18 from the pressure side 26 to the suction side 28 of the blade 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1987
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventor: William R. Wagner