Patents Represented by Attorney Judson R. Hightower

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  • Double diameter boring tool
    Patent number: 4793745
    Abstract: A boring tool and a method of operation are provided for boring two concentric holes of precision diameters and depths in a single operation. The boring tool includes an elongated tool body, a shank for attachment to a standard adjustable boring head which is used on a manual or numerical control milling machine and first and second diametrically opposed cutting edges formed for cutting in opposite directions. The diameter of the elongated tool body is substantially equal to the distance from the first cutting edge tip to the axis of rotation plus the distance from the second cutting edge tip to the axis of rotation. The axis of rotation of the tool is spaced from the tool centerline a distance substantially equal to one-half the distance from the second cutting edge tip to the axis of rotation minus one-half the distance from the first cutting edge tip to the axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Fred N. Ashbaugh, Kenneth R. Murry
  • Turbomachinery debris remover
    Patent number: 4792276
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing debris from a turbomachine. The apparatus includes housing and remotely operable viewing and grappling mechanisms for the purpose of locating and removing debris lodged between adjacent blades in a turbomachine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1988
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Donald F. Krawiec, Robert J. Kraf, Robert J. Houser
  • Gas mixtures for spark gap closing switches
    Patent number: 4792724
    Abstract: Gas mixtures for use in spark gap closing switches comprised of fluorocarbons and low molecular weight, inert buffer gases. To this can be added a third gas having a low ionization potential relative to the buffer gas. The gas mixtures presented possess properties that optimized the efficiency spark gap closing switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1988
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Loucas G. Christophorou, Dennis L. McCorkle, Scott R. Hunter
  • Instantaneous and efficient surface wave excitation of a low pressure gas or gases
    Patent number: 4792725
    Abstract: A system for instantaneously ionizing and continuously delivering energy in the form of surface waves to a low pressure gas or mixture of low pressure gases, comprising a source of rf energy, a discharge container, (such as a fluorescent lamp discharge tube), an rf shield, and a coupling device responsive to rf energy from the source to couple rf energy directly and efficiently to the gas or mixture of gases to ionize at least a portion of the gas or gases and to provide energy to the gas or gases in the form of surface waves. The majority of the rf power is transferred to the gas or gases near the inner surface of the discharge container to efficiently transfer rf energy as excitation energy for at least one of the gases. The most important use of the invention is to provide more efficient fluorescent and/or ultraviolet lamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1988
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Energy
    Inventors: Donald J. Levy, Samuel M. Berman
  • Method and apparatus for optical communication by frequency modulation
    Patent number: 4791630
    Abstract: Laser optical communication according to this invention is carried out by producing multi-frequency laser beams having different frequencies, splitting one or more of these constituent beams into reference and signal beams, encoding information on the signal beams by frequency modulation and detecting the encoded information by heterodyne techniques. Much more information can be transmitted over optical paths according to the present invention than with the use of only one path as done previously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Gordon J. Priatko
  • Polarization feedback laser stabilization
    Patent number: 4791633
    Abstract: A system for locking two Nd:YAG laser oscillators includes an optical path for feeding the output of one laser into the other with different polarizations. Elliptical polarization is incorporated into the optical path so that the change in polarization that occurs when the frequencies coincide may be detected to provide a feedback signal to control one laser relative to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Peter Esherick, Adelbert Owyoung
  • Flying-plate detonator using a high-density high explosive
    Patent number: 4788913
    Abstract: A flying-plate detonator containing a high-density high explosive such as benzotrifuroxan (BTF). The detonator involves the electrical explosion of a thin metal foil which punches out a flyer from a layer overlying the foil, and the flyer striking a high-density explosive pellet of BTF, which is more thermally stable than the conventional detonator using pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1971
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1988
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: John R. Stroud, Donald L. Ornellas
  • Prealloyed catalyst for growing silicon carbide whiskers
    Patent number: 4789537
    Abstract: A prealloyed metal catalyst is used to grow silicon carbide whiskers, especially in the .beta. form. Pretreating the metal particles to increase the weight percentages of carbon or silicon or both carbon and silicon allows whisker growth to begin immediately upon reaching growth temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1988
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Peter D. Shalek, Joel D. Katz, George F. Hurley
  • Method and apparatus for nondestructive in vivo measurement of photosynthesis
    Patent number: 4789436
    Abstract: A device for in situ, nondestructive measurement of photosynthesis in live plants and photosynthetic microorganisms is disclosed which comprises a Clark-type oxygen electrode having a substantially transparent cathode comprised of an optical fiber having a metallic grid microetched onto its front face and sides, an anode, a substantially transparent electrolyte film, and a substantially transparent oxygen permeable membrane. The device is designed to be placed in direct contact with a photosynthetic portion of a living plant, and nondestructive, noninvasive measurement of photosynthetic oxygen production from the plant can be taken by passing light through the fiber-optic cathode, transparent electroyte and transparent membrane, and onto the plant so that photosynthesis occurs. The oxygen thus produced by the plant is measured polargraphically by the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1988
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Elias Greenbaum
  • Radioiodinated glucose analogues for use as imaging agents
    Patent number: 4789542
    Abstract: A radioiodinated branched carbohydrate for tissue imaging. Iodine-123 is stabilized in the compound by attaching it to a vinyl functional group that is on the carbohydrate. The compound exhibits good uptake and retention and is promising in the development of radiopharmaceuticals for brain, heart and tumor imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1988
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Mark M. Goodman, Furn F. Knapp, Jr.
  • Gradient index retroreflector
    Patent number: 4789219
    Abstract: A retroreflector is formed of a graded index lens with a reflective coating at one end. The lens has a length of an odd multiple of a quarter period thereof. Hexagonally shaped graded index lenses may be closely packed in an array to form a retroreflecting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1988
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Clyde B. Layne
  • Rotatable shear plate interferometer
    Patent number: 4786175
    Abstract: A rotatable shear plate interferometer comprises a transparent shear plate mounted obliquely in a tubular supporting member at 45.degree. with respect to its horizontal center axis. This tubular supporting member is supported rotatably around its center axis and a collimated laser beam is made incident on the shear plate along this center axis such that defocus in different directions can be easily measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1988
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Richard C. Duffus
  • Method and apparatus for removal of gaseous, liquid and particulate contaminants from molten metals
    Patent number: 4786320
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for removal of nonelectrically-conducting gaseous, liquid, and particulate contaminants from molten metal compositions by applying a force thereto. The force (commonly referred to as the Lorentz Force) exerted by simultaneous application of an electric field and a magnetic field on a molten conductor causes an increase, in the same direction as the force, in the apparent specific gravity thereof, but does not affect the nonconducting materials. This difference in apparent densities cause the nonconducting materials to "float" in the opposite direction from the Lorentz Force at a rapid rate. Means are further provided for removal of the contaminants and prevention of stirring due to rotational forces generated by the applied fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1988
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Deprtment of Energy
    Inventors: David O. Hobson, Igor Alexeff, Vinod K. Sikka
  • Method for increasing steam decomposition in a coal gasification process
    Patent number: 4786291
    Abstract: The gasification of coal in the presence of steam and oxygen is significantly enhanced by introducing a thermochemical water-splitting agent such as sulfuric acid, into the gasifier for decomposing the steam to provide additional oxygen and hydrogen usable in the gasification process for the combustion of the coal and enrichment of the gaseous gasification products. The addition of the water-splitting agent into the gasifier also allows for the operation of the reactor at a lower temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1988
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Energy
    Inventor: Marvin W. Wilson
  • Coating formulation and method for refinishing the surface of surface-damaged graphite articles
    Patent number: 4786524
    Abstract: The described development is directed to a coating formulation for filling surface irregularities in graphite articles such as molds, crucibles, and matched die sets used in high-temperature metallurgical operations. The coating formulation of the present invention is formed of carbon black flour, thermosetting resin and a solvent for the resin. In affixing the coating to the article, the solvent is evaporated, the resin cured to bond the coating to the surface of the article and then pyrolyzed to convert the resin to carbon. Upon completion of the pyrolysis step, the coating is shaped and polished to provide the article with a surface restoration that is essentially similar to the original or desired surface finish without the irregularity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1988
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Zane L. Ardary, Samuel T. Benton
  • Pulsed particle beam vacuum-to-air interface
    Patent number: 4785254
    Abstract: A vacuum-to-air interface (10) is provided for a high-powered, pulsed particle beam accelerator. The interface comprises a pneumatic high speed gate valve (18), from which extends a vacuum-tight duct (26), that termintes in an aperture (28). Means (32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 48) are provided for periodically advancing a foil strip (30) across the aperture (28) at the repetition rate of the particle pulses. A pneumatically operated hollow sealing band (62) urges foil strip (30), when stationary, against and into the aperture (28). Gas pressure means (68, 70) periodically lift off and separate foil strip (30) from aperture (28), so that it may be readily advanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by The United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Gilbert E. Cruz, William F. Edwards
  • Synthesis of ultrafine powders by microwave heating
    Patent number: 4784686
    Abstract: A method of synthesizing ultrafine powders using microwaves is described. A water soluble material is dissolved in water and the resulting aqueous solution is exposed to microwaves until the water has been removed. The resulting material is an ultrafine powder. This method can be used to make Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, NiO+Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and NiO as well as a number of other materials including GaBa.sub.2 Cu.sub.3 O.sub.x.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Thomas T. Meek, Haskell Sheinberg, Rodger D. Blake
  • Toroidal reactor
    Patent number: H554
    Abstract: Method for producing fusion power wherein a neutral beam is injected into a toroidal bulk plasma to produce fusion reactions during the time permitted by the slowing down of the particles from the injected beam in the bulk plasma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1988
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: John M. Dawson, Harold P. Furth, Fred H. Tenney
  • Epitaxial strengthening of crystals
    Patent number: H557
    Abstract: An epitaxial layer is used to place the surface of a crystal in compression o as to greatly increase the durability of the crystal such as a laser medium crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1988
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Energy
    Inventors: Robert C. Morris, John E. Marion, II, Devlin M. Gaultieri
  • Radation shielding pellets
    Patent number: H558
    Abstract: Radiation pellets having an outer shell, preferably, of Mo, W or depleted U nd an inner filling of lithium hydride wherein the outer shell material has a greater melting point than does the inner filling material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1988
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Energy
    Inventors: Edmund P. Coomes, Andrzej T. Luksic