Patents Assigned to The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
  • Patent number: 10663376
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a motor having a first shaft extending therefrom. The motor is configured to apply energy to the first shaft. A particle cartridge mechanically is coupled to the motor via the first shaft. The particle cartridge includes a screen separating an internal volume of the particle cartridge from an environment of the apparatus, and a plurality of particles disposed within the internal volume. A particle manipulation element is mechanically coupled to the first shaft and in contact with the plurality of particles. The particle manipulation element moves in response to the energy being applied to the first shaft to force some of the particles through the screen and into the environment of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Juan H. Agui, Rajagopal Vijayakumar
  • Patent number: 10654756
    Abstract: An engineered ceramic matrix is provided to blunt and self-heal matrix cracks to reduce oxygen ingress into a fiber reinforced composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Sai V. Raj
  • Patent number: 10647439
    Abstract: A hybrid propulsion system for an aircraft is provided that includes a turbine engine, a first electric machine assembly connected to the turbine engine, a second electric machine assembly driven by the first electric machine assembly, and multiple third electric machine assemblies driven by the first electric machine assembly, wherein the multiple third electric machines provide a thrust output to propel the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Raymond F. Beach
  • Patent number: 10633256
    Abstract: Aerogels, aerogel composites and methods of making the same are discussed. One example method can include the act of creating a Boehmite colloid and adding a hydrolyzed silicon precursor to form a sol. A reinforcement can be infused with the sol, gelled to form a gel, then dried to form an aerogel composite. Such a method can also include the acts of performing one or more solvent exchanges and subjecting the gel composite to subcritical drying. Additionally, such a method can include the act of heat treating the aerogel composite. The aerogel composite can be used in high temperature, flexible seals capable of withstanding temperatures, pressures, and compression levels associated with aerodynamic heating generated during flight and in aerospace applications. The aerogel composite also can be used in thermal protection systems designed for fire protection for structures or in personnel fire protective equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Haiquan Guo, Frances I. Hurwitz
  • Patent number: 10632828
    Abstract: A prime mover is combined with a flywheel storage device and a control system to implement a flywheel pulse and glide system in a vehicle. In one embodiment, the control system is configured to cycle power delivery between the prime mover and the flywheel storage device to power the vehicle. The prime mover, when activated by the control system, is configured to power the vehicle and spin up the flywheel storage device to capture a sufficient amount of energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Larry M. Trase, Ralph H. Jansen, Peter E. Kascak
  • Patent number: 10620133
    Abstract: Methods and systems for analyzing and processing digital data comprising a plurality of infra-red (IR) video images acquired by thermography system are used to compute video data from the raw and smoothed video data acquired for the performance of non-destructive evaluation. New video data types computed may include but are not limited to contrast evolution data such as normalized contrast, converted contrast and normalized temperature contrast. Additionally, video data types computed comprise surface temperature, surface temperature rise and temperature simple contrast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Ajay M Koshti
  • Patent number: 10612911
    Abstract: A method and system for rendering the quaternion shape and orientation of a three-dimensional structure. The proposed system and method keeps track of twist/roll angles and updates its effect on pitch and yaw orientations. The system relies on a single or multi-core optical fiber or multi-fiber bundle containing fiber Bragg grating sensors (FBGs) arrayed in rosettes at 45° deltas and spaced at uniform intervals along the entire length of the structure to be monitored. A tunable laser is used to interrogate the sensors using optical frequency domain reflectometry (OFDR), which detects shifts in the wavelength reflected by the sensors in response to strain on the fibers. Each sensor is continuously queried by software which determines the strain magnitude (?L/L) for each fiber at a given triplet. Given these measured strain values, the software implements a novel quaternion approach to rendering the 3D shape of the fiber including twist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Francisco Pena, III, Allen R. Parker, Jr., William Lance Richards, Hon Man Chan
  • Patent number: 10604454
    Abstract: Advanced environmental barrier coating bond coat systems with higher temperature capabilities and environmental resistance are disclosed. These bond coat systems can be applied to ceramic substrates such as SiC/SiC ceramic matrix composite substrates, and can provide protection from extreme temperature, mechanical loading and environmental conditions, such as in high temperature gas turbines. Example bond coat systems can include either an advanced silicon/silicide component, an oxide/silicate component, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Dongming Zhu, Janet B. Hurst
  • Patent number: 10607742
    Abstract: The invention consists of radiation shielding materials for shielding in the most structurally robust combination against galactic cosmic radiation (GCR), neutrons, and solar energetic particles (SEP). Materials for vehicles, space structures, habitats, landers, rovers, and spacesuits must possess functional characteristics of radiation shielding, thermal protection, pressure resistance, and mechanical durability. The materials are tailored to offer the greatest shielding against GCR, neutrons, and SEP in the most structurally robust combination, also capable of shielding against micrometeoriod impact. The boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) is composed entirely of low Z atoms (boron and nitrogen).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignees: National Institute of Aerospace Associates, United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Sheila A. Thibeault, Catharine C. Fay, Godfrey Sauti, Jin Ho Kang, Cheol Park
  • Patent number: 10592622
    Abstract: A system and method of analyzing an engine model is disclosed. The system and method include performing a Dynamic Systems Analysis on the engine model that includes modifying a transient allowance of the engine model to determine an optimal balance between performance and operability and assessing the conservatism level of the engine model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Jeffrey T. Csank, Sanjay Garg
  • Patent number: 10590044
    Abstract: An engineered matrix is provided to blunt and self-heal matrix cracks to reduce oxygen ingress into a fiber reinforced composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Sai V. Raj
  • Patent number: 10590000
    Abstract: Aerogels, aerogel composites and methods of making the same are discussed. One example method can include the act of creating a boehmite colloid and adding a hydrolyzed silicon precursor to form a sol. A reinforcement can be infused with the sol and dried to form an aerogel composite. Such a method can also include the acts of performing one or more solvent exchanges and subjecting the gel composite to supercritical drying. Additionally, such a method can include the act of heat treating the aerogel composite. The aerogel composite can be used in high temperature, flexible seals capable of withstanding temperatures, pressures, and compression levels associated with aerodynamic heating generated during flight and in aerospace applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Frances Hurwitz
  • Patent number: 10581355
    Abstract: A double-fed oscillating linear alternator is provided that includes two concentric Halbach type arrays, one stationary and one movable, that do not require magnets or iron laminations to create a strong magnetic field between the two arrays where the movable array oscillates in a linear motion with respect to the stationary array. The two arrays are manufactured from magnet-less and iron-less conductive material using additive manufacturing techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Rodger W. Dyson
  • Patent number: 10569939
    Abstract: An axially sealing plug may not require modification of a hole being sealed in a tube or pipe. The plug may only require an axial load for activation (not torque), work independently of temperature, require no explosives, and be lightweight and compact. The plug may include a housing or a seal cup that includes at least one tooth on an outer surface and a ramp on an inner surface. The plug may also include a ferrule including a beveled, curved, or chamfered lower end. The ferrule is configured to be inserted inside the housing or seal cup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Paulo J. Younse
  • Patent number: 10564248
    Abstract: A multi-tone multi-band tunable millimeter-wave synthesizer is provided. In some embodiments, the multi-tone multi-band tunable millimeter-wave synthesizer is configured to simultaneously generate multiple frequency tones for space-borne beacon transmitter for atmospheric radio wave propagation studies. The apparatus includes a comb generator, which puts out evenly spaced harmonic frequencies of the input signal, which are coherent, tunable, and the number of tones or combs is scalable over a wide range of frequencies. These harmonics or tones are amplified to the power level needed for radio wave propagation studies. The amplified signals are transmitted as beacon signals from a satellite to a ground receiving station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Rainee Simons, Edwin Wintucky
  • Patent number: 10567146
    Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) system includes an RFID interrogator configured for generating an RFID signal, wherein a channel frequency of the RFID signal changes over time; at least one single feed patch antenna; and at least one single feed line configured for feeding the signal to the corresponding at least one single feed patch antenna. The single feed patch antenna is configured to transmit an electromagnetic wave in response to and at the channel frequency of the RFID signal such that the electromagnetic wave exhibits (1) a polarization tilt angle that varies depending on the channel frequency of the signal, (2) a substantially linear polarization at all channel frequencies of the signal within the given operational bandwidth, and (3) a range of polarization tilt angles across the given operational bandwidth that spans at least 70 degrees within a single quadrant. A method for frequency multiplexing includes similar components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Patrick W. Fink, Gregory Y. Lin, Timothy F. Kennedy, Phong H. Ngo
  • Patent number: 10515804
    Abstract: Use of a single alloy conductor to form simultaneous ohmic contacts (SOC) to n- and p-type 4H—SiC. The single alloy conductor also is an effective diffusion barrier against gold (AU) and oxygen (O2) at high temperatures (e.g., up to 800° C.). The innovation may also provide an effective interconnecting metallization in a multi-level metallization device scheme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Robert S. Okojie
  • Patent number: 10507934
    Abstract: A thermal management system for an aircraft is provided that includes thermo-acoustic engines that remove and capture waste heat from the aircraft engines, heat pumps powered by the acoustic waves generated from the waste heat that remove and capture electrical component waste heat from electrical components in the aircraft, and hollow tubes disposed in the aircraft configured to propagate mechanical energy to locations throughout the aircraft and to transfer the electrical component waste heat back to the aircraft engines to reduce overall aircraft mass and improve propulsive efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Rodger W. Dyson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10509054
    Abstract: A contactless radio frequency (RF) probe. The RF probe includes a dielectric substrate, at least one waveguide comprising an electric field configured to increase the coupling between the dielectric substrate and the at least one waveguide, and an air gap separating the dielectric substrate and the at least one waveguide to prevent thermal loading, thermal expansion, and material deformity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Jennifer L. Jordan, Rainee N. Simons
  • Patent number: 10501373
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with multi-phase ceramic composites are described herein. Specifically, a multi-phase ceramic composite having a microstructure having at least one solid-state lubricant phase and at least one wear resistant material phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Frederick Dynys, Ali Sayir