Patents by Inventor Alan B. Minick

Alan B. Minick 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).

  • Patent number: 10309344
    Abstract: A propulsion system according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a pressurant selectively released from a pressure tank to drive a pump to sustain propellant flow for main combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: AEROJET ROCKETDYNE, INC.
    Inventors: Alan B. Minick, Timothy S. Kokan, Jerrol W. Littles
  • Publication number: 20180142646
    Abstract: A solid rocket motor includes a propellant grain and a barrier shielding at least a portion of the grain. The barrier is impermeable to water, oxygen, nitrogen, and volatile solid propellant species.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2016
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: Alan B. Minick, Scott Dawley
  • Publication number: 20160131085
    Abstract: A propulsion system according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a pressurant selectively released from a pressure tank to drive a pump to sustain propellant flow for main combustion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Applicant: Aerojet Rockettdyne, Inc
    Inventors: Alan B. Minick, Timothy S. Kokan, Jerrol W. Littles
  • Publication number: 20150308348
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a transient plasma igniter in communication with a continuous detonation wave combustor. A method of operating a gas turbine engine includes maintaining ignition of a continuous detonation wave combustor with a transient plasma igniter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2014
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Applicant: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Alan B. Minick
  • Publication number: 20150284072
    Abstract: A method for controlling a boundary layer over a vehicle surface includes generating an ionic wind using a network of emitters and receivers. An external fluid is propelled with the ionic wind over the vehicle surface. The strength of the ionic wind is controlled to adjust the boundary layer thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: Alan B. Minick, William T. Cousins
  • Patent number: 9149870
    Abstract: A disclosed additive manufacturing machine includes a fixed platform defining a work surface for supporting fabrication of a part and a housing defining a chamber over the work surface. A material applicator is supported on the housing for depositing material onto the work surface. An energy directing device is also supported on the housing and directs energy within the chamber to form a part. The housing is movable relative to the work surface therefore moves the energy producing device relative to the work surface to maintain a distance between the energy directing device and a surface of the part during fabrication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: AEROJET ROCKETDYNE OF DE, INC.
    Inventor: Alan B. Minick
  • Patent number: 8883007
    Abstract: A fluid separation system includes a separation membrane having a pattern of features thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Aerojet Rocketdyne of DE, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark F. Buser, Alan B. Minick
  • Patent number: 8839761
    Abstract: A rotary engine includes a first rotary unit operable to provides a first phase of compression to a fresh air charge drawn in through an inlet port to the first rotary unit. A second rotary unit in communication with the first rotary unit through a first passage, the second rotary unit operable to provide a second phase of compression to the first phase of compression, a combustion phase and a first phase of expansion, the second rotary unit in communication with the first rotary unit through a second passage such that the first rotary unit provides a second phase of expansion to the first phase of expansion and an exhaust phase that exhausts the first rotary unit via an exhaust port. A first fuel injector is in communication with the second rotary unit operable to initiate the combustion phase and a second fuel injector is in communication with the first rotary unit operable to selectively initiate augmented operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Aerojet Rocketdyne of DE, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan B. Minick, Alfred Little
  • Patent number: 8695540
    Abstract: A system includes a diesel engine and a fuel-cracking system in fluid communication with a fuel supply to the diesel engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Aerojet Rocketdyne of DE, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan B. Minick
  • Publication number: 20140077422
    Abstract: A disclosed additive manufacturing machine includes a work surface for supporting fabrication of part and a housing defining a chamber over the work surface. A material applicator supported on the housing deposits material onto the work surface and a blocker plate disposed between the material applicator and the work surface for blocking a portion of material deposited by the material applicator. An energy directing device is supported on the housing and directing energy within the chamber to form the part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: PRATT & WHITNEY ROCKETDYNE, INC.
    Inventor: Alan B. Minick
  • Publication number: 20140077421
    Abstract: A disclosed additive manufacturing machine includes a fixed platform defining a work surface for supporting fabrication of a part and a housing defining a chamber over the work surface. A material applicator is supported on the housing for depositing material onto the work surface. An energy directing device is also supported on the housing and directs energy within the chamber to form a part. The housing is movable relative to the work surface therefore moves the energy producing device relative to the work surface to maintain a distance between the energy directing device and a surface of the part during fabrication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Inventor: Alan B. Minick
  • Publication number: 20130333637
    Abstract: A system includes a diesel engine and a fuel-cracking system in fluid communication with a fuel supply to the diesel engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventor: Alan B. Minick
  • Patent number: 8322981
    Abstract: An inlet system, including for an auxiliary power unit includes an inlet louver mounted to an inlet duct, the inlet louver defines a multiple of vanes positioned to shield the inlet duct from fluids which fall in direction generally transverse to a free stream airflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Stacey H. Light, Alan B. Minick
  • Publication number: 20120204535
    Abstract: A rocket engine includes a thrust chamber having a cooling channel, which is adapted to provide sustained cracking conditions for a fluid (e.g., kerosene) within the cooling channel under steady-state engine operating conditions. An augmenter having a fluid input communicates with an output of the cooling channel, and an output of the augmenter is in fluid communication with a turbine. A pump is mechanically coupled to the turbine, and provides fluid flow to the inlet of the cooling channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: PRATT & WHITNEY ROCKETDYNE, INC.
    Inventors: Alan B. Minick, David C. Gregory
  • Publication number: 20120018366
    Abstract: A fluid separation system includes a separation membrane having a pattern of features thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2009
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: Mark F. Buser, Alan B. Minick
  • Patent number: 8091836
    Abstract: A rotary-wing system which generates a directed ion field to propel a fluid along a rotary-wing to control at least one boundary layer characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan B. Minick
  • Publication number: 20110272531
    Abstract: A boundary layer control system and method for controlling and adjusting the boundary layer of a fluid flowing over a surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventors: Alan B. Minick, William T. Cousins
  • Publication number: 20110108019
    Abstract: A heliostat includes a joint with a range of motion in both elevation and azimuth of more than 90 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: PRATT & WHITNEY ROCKETDYNE., INC.
    Inventors: Alan B. Minick, Ronald Daniel
  • Patent number: 7891298
    Abstract: A non-propulsive projectile and method of maneuvering the non-propulsive projectile. The non-propulsive projectile includes a divert system with a multiple of valves to maneuver the projectile in response to a control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan B. Minick, Stephen Alan Hobart, Frederick Widman, Timothy S. Kokan, Frederic H. Massey
  • Publication number: 20100307367
    Abstract: A non-propulsive projectile and method of maneuvering the non-propulsive projectile. The non-propulsive projectile includes a divert system with a multiple of valves to maneuver the projectile in response to a control system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventors: Alan B. Minick, Stephen Alan Hobart, Frederick Widman, Timothy S. Kokan, Frederic H. Massey