Patents Examined by Aileen B. Felton
  • Patent number: 10618495
    Abstract: A gas generator is provided, the gas generator having a propellant cushion that prevents movement of propellant wafers, tablets, or grains by providing a bias thereagainst. Furthermore, the cushion may be formed from a polyurethane-based foam material and if desired, a known oxidizer combined within the foam. Channels inherent within the polyurethane-based foam enhance the combustion of the main gas generant. Alternatively, the substituted polyurethane polymer combined with an oxidizer may be formed as a monolithic grain that provides autoignition and gas generant function in lieu of a primary gas generant or in lieu of an igniter composition, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition LLC
    Inventors: Sudhakar R. Ganta, Dale E. Tauchen, Deborah L. Hordos, Slaven Domazet, Sean P. Burns
  • Patent number: 10618854
    Abstract: A method for gas atomization of oxygen-reactive reactive metals and alloys wherein the atomized particles are exposed as they solidify and cool in a very short time to multiple gaseous reactive agents for the in-situ formation of a protective reaction film on the atomized particles. The present invention is especially useful for making highly pyrophoric reactive metal or alloy atomized powders, such as atomized magnesium and magnesium alloy powders. The gaseous reactive species (agents) are introduced into the atomization spray chamber at locations downstream of a gas atomizing nozzle as determined by the desired powder or particle temperature for the reactions and the desired thickness of the reaction film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Iver E. Anderson, Andrew D. Steinmetz, David J. Byrd
  • Patent number: 10604105
    Abstract: An inflator (30) comprises at least one combustion chamber (34), filled with a plurality of solid propellant pellets (10), each of the solid propellant pellets (10) including a surface having a breaking point (19) which is delimited at least by two converging surfaces (28) produced by pressing. A method of manufacturing solid propellant pellets (10), includes the steps of providing a solid propellant (12), pressing the solid propellant (12) into a pellet blank (16), the pellet blank (16) having at least one predetermined breaking point (18) which divides the pellet blank (16) into at least two subareas (20), and breaking the pellet blank (16) along the at least one predetermined breaking point (18), wherein each of the at least two subareas (20) forms a solid propellant pellet (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: TRW AIRBAG SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventors: Klaus Bernau, Christian Bichlmaier, Sebastian Reichgruber
  • Patent number: 10591950
    Abstract: The application relates to a Ramjet solid fuel having an ignition temperature of less than 400° C., the fuel comprising a bis-(ethylene oxy) methane polysulfide polymer (BMPP) and hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB), the copolymer having a BMPP/HTPB weight ratio of from 1/3 to 3/1; and the fuel comprising at least 85 weight % copolymer. The BMPP comprises from 5 to 8 weight percent mercaptan. Furthermore, the BMPP is selected from HS(RSS)aCH2CH((SSR)cCSH)CH2(SSR)bSH??a) where R?—(CH2)2OCH2O(CH2)2— and a+b+c<7; and H(SC2H4OCH2OC2H4S)nH where n=7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Inventors: Brian McDonald, Jeremy Rice, John Stewart
  • Patent number: 10584075
    Abstract: A composite reactive material for use in a munition is disclosed. The composite reactive material comprises a metal lattice structure having interstitial spaces and a powder in the interstitial spaces. The powder comprises at least one metal powder and/or at least one halogen-containing polymer powder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: MBDA UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Terence Alan Ackerman, David Robert Crofts, Kiran Gulia, Moataz Mohammad Mahmoud Attallah, Jack Robert Harry Mellor
  • Patent number: 10570069
    Abstract: An end-burning grain of a solid rocket motor or other gas-generating device is supplemented with one or more sticks of high-burn-rate propellant embedded in a matrix of a relatively low-burn-rate propellant. The sticks increase the burning surface area as the grain burns by forming conical indentations in the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Aerojet Rocketdyne, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott K. Dawley, Mark Peyser Friedlander
  • Patent number: 10549263
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to an advanced oxidation process for providing advanced oxidation products to an environment. More particularly, the present invention provides a wick structure and hydrophilic granules for use in an advanced oxidation process, and methods of making the same. The wick structure and hydrophilic granules may be configured to collect and concentrate water vapor, so that the water vapor may subsequently be used to generate advanced oxidation products that react with and neutralize compounds in an environment, including microbes, odor causing chemicals, and other organic and inorganic chemicals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: RGF ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Walter B. Ellis, Ronald G. Fink
  • Patent number: 10532800
    Abstract: This invention relates to a thermal hydrogen generator and a process and system for generating hydrogen gas, more specifically to a process and system for generating hydrogen gas by thermally decomposing a metal hydride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Anasphere, Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Bognar
  • Patent number: 10519074
    Abstract: An obscurant-emitting composition may comprise an oxidizer comprising a cation comprising at least one of an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal, and an anion comprising at least one of nitrate, chlorate, bromate, iodate, perchlorate, periodate, or chlorite; a fuel; and a hydrated salt composition, wherein the obscurant-emitting composition comprises between 0.001% and 8% by weight hydrated salt composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Karl G. Reimer, Jean C. Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 10494314
    Abstract: Non-lethal payloads including at least one of boron and silicon, at least one fuel, and at least one oxidizer. The non-lethal payload may be a single-component or dual-component payload. Methods of producing the non-lethal payloads are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Reed J. Blau
  • Patent number: 10494313
    Abstract: Thermal insulation foam for high explosives is applied to the inner surface of warheads and guided weapons filled with high explosives, thus maximizing the storability and survivability of warheads and guided weapons despite changes in temperature and external environmental factors such as impacts. The thermal insulation foam includes porous microspheres, a prepolymer having a hydroxyl group, and an isocyanate, wherein the prepolymer includes any one selected from among a polybutadiene-, a polyester-, a polyether-, a polysiloxane-, and a fluorine-based prepolymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: AGENCY FOR DEFENSE DEVELOPMENT
    Inventors: Jin-Seuk Kim, Young-Hwan Kwon
  • Patent number: 10392314
    Abstract: A high strength engineered reactive matrix composite that includes a core material and a reactive binder matrix combined in high volumes and with controlled spacing and distribution to produce both high strength and controlled reactivity. The engineered reactive matrix composite includes a repeating metal, ceramic, or composite particle core material and a reactive binder/matrix, and wherein the reactive/matrix binder is distributed relatively homogeneously around the core particles, and wherein the reactivity of the reactive binder/matrix is engineered by controlling the relative chemistry and interfacial surface area of the reactive components. These reactive materials are useful for oil and gas completions and well stimulation processes, enhanced oil and gas recovery operations, as well as in defensive and mining applications requiring high energy density and good mechanical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Powdermet, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew J. Sherman, Brian P. Doud
  • Patent number: 10392767
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods for mineral precipitation of porous particulate starting materials using isolated urease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University
    Inventors: Edward Kavazanjian, Nasser Hamdan
  • Patent number: 10358737
    Abstract: A method includes providing a plurality of particles of an energetic material suspended in a dispersion liquid to an EPD chamber or configuration; applying a voltage difference across a first pair of electrodes to generate a first electric field in the EPD chamber; and depositing at least some of the particles of the energetic material on at least one surface of a substrate, the substrate being one of the electrodes or being coupled to one of the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Kyle Sullivan, Alexander E. Gash, Joshua Kuntz, Marcus A. Worsley
  • Patent number: 10343954
    Abstract: The invention relates to gas generating compositions for use in safety devices for vehicles. In particular, the invention relates to said compositions based on guanidine nitrate used in pedestrian protection devices. The composition substantially comprises 75 to 98% by weight of guanidine nitrate as fuel and 2 to 25% by weight of a burn accelerator selected from the group of the transition metal compounds, the metal nitrates, metal chlorates, metal perchlorates, ammonium perchlorate and mixtures thereof, wherein the transition metal compounds are selected from the compounds of the transition metals Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Zr and Mo and wherein the gas generating composition exhibits a burn rate of from 3 to 17 mm/s at 20 MPa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: TRW AIRBAG SYSTEMS GMBH
    Inventors: Jorg Friedrich, Achim Hofmann, Karl-Heinz Rodig, Siegfried Zeuner
  • Patent number: 10336661
    Abstract: An energetic nanocomposite includes fuel nanoparticles and oxidizer nanoparticles covalently bonded to negatively charged functionalized graphene sheets. A preferred example includes Al fuel nanoparticles and Bi2O3 nanoparticles. A preferred method of formation mixes a solution of positively charged fuel nanoparticles, positively charged oxidizer nanoparticles, and negatively charged functionalized graphene sheets having functional groups to bond with the positively charged fuel nanoparticles and positively charged oxidizer nanoparticles. Self-assembly of the energetic nanocomposite is permitted over a predetermined time via the attraction and aggregation of the positively charged fuel nanoparticles positively charged oxidizer nanoparticles and negatively charged functionalized graphene sheets. Additional methods and nanocomposites include unfunctionalized graphene sheets, which can be commercial grade sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: The Curators of the University of Missouri
    Inventors: Shubhra Gangopadhyay, Stephen W. Chung, Rajagopalan Thiruvengadathan, Clay Stephen Staley, Keshab Gangopadhyay, Kristofer Emile Raymond
  • Patent number: 10336662
    Abstract: The invention is an article of manufacture, a composition of matter and an in-situ process for making non-hygroscopic ammonium nitrate prills. The non-hygroscopic prills are formed from dried prills of ammonium nitrate, in reaction vessel having an inert gas atmosphere and a nonpolar reaction diluent. A shell is formed in situ by reacting a first reactant with a second reactant in the presence of the AN prills en masse. The prills, en masse, are individually sealed in the shell made of a highly crosslinked polymeric material. The material is a reaction product of a diglycidyl hydantoin and a polyoxypropylene-triamine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Joseph D Mannion, John P Consaga
  • Patent number: 10322403
    Abstract: A catalyst coating for use in a hydrolysis catalyst (H-catalyst) for the reduction of nitrogen oxides, a manufacturing method for such a coating, a catalyst structure and its use are described. The H-catalyst includes alkaline compounds, which are capable of adsorbing HNCO and/or nitrogen oxides and which include alkali and alkaline earth metals, lanthanum and/or yttrium and/or hafnium and/or prasedium and/or gallium, and/or zirconium for promoting reduction, such as for promoting the hydrolysis of urea and the formation of ammonia and/or the selective reduction of nitrogen oxides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: DINEX ECOCAT OY
    Inventor: Teuvo Maunula
  • Patent number: 10323919
    Abstract: In making frangible objects, including lead-free bullets and other projectiles, powdered metal primary and powdered ceramic secondary phases are mixed and densified at an elevated temperature such that the ceramic phase forms a brittle network. Different combinations of metal and ceramic phases may be used to achieve desired chemical and physical properties. Any appropriate mixing, forming, and/or thermal processing methods and equipment may be used. Degrees of frangibility, strength, and toughness can be adjusted to suit a given application by precursor selection, degree of mixing, relative amounts of metal and ceramic phases, forming method, and thermal and mechanical processing parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Ervin Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark C. Hash, Trent Pearson
  • Patent number: 10287219
    Abstract: A method for phlegmatizing an explosive in an aqueous suspension including a dispersed phlegmatizing agent. The phlegmatizing agent is deposited on a surface of the explosive at low temperature utilizing opposite electric charges of the phlegmatizing agent and the explosive. Also a device and a phlegmatized explosive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: EURENCO BOFORS AB
    Inventors: Michal Mazurek, Karolina Mazurek