Patents by Inventor Benjamin N. Ashcroft
Benjamin N. Ashcroft 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).
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Patent number: 9982981Abstract: A munition, such as a projectile formed of at least one reactive material. In one embodiment, the projectile includes a body portion formed of at least one reactive material composition wherein the at least one reactive material composition defines at least a portion of an exterior surface of the projectile. In other words, a portion of the reactive material may be left “unbuffered” or exposed to the barrel of a gun or weapon from which it is launched and similarly exposed to a target with which the projectile subsequently impacts. In one embodiment, the projectile may be formed with a jacket surrounding a portion of the reactive material to provide additional structural integrity. The projectile may be formed by casting or pressing the reactive material into a desired shape, or the reactive material may be extruded into a near-net shape and then machined into the desired shape.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2015Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: Orbital ATK, Inc.Inventors: Daniel B. Nielson, Richard M. Truitt, Benjamin N. Ashcroft
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Publication number: 20150292846Abstract: A munition, such as a projectile formed of at least one reactive material. In one embodiment, the projectile includes a body portion formed of at least one reactive material composition wherein the at least one reactive material composition defines at least a portion of an exterior surface of the projectile. In other words, a portion of the reactive material may be left “unbuffered” or exposed to the barrel of a gun or weapon from which it is launched and similarly exposed to a target with which the projectile subsequently impacts. In one embodiment, the projectile may be formed with a jacket surrounding a portion of the reactive material to provide additional structural integrity. The projectile may be formed by casting or pressing the reactive material into a desired shape, or the reactive material may be extruded into a near-net shape and then machined into the desired shape.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2015Publication date: October 15, 2015Inventors: Daniel B. Nielson, Richard M. Truitt, Benjamin N. Ashcroft
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Patent number: 9103641Abstract: A munition, such as a projectile formed of at least one reactive material. In one embodiment, the projectile includes a body portion formed of at least one reactive material composition wherein the at least one reactive material composition defines at least a portion of an exterior surface of the projectile. In other words, a portion of the reactive material may be left “unbuffered” or exposed to the barrel of a gun or weapon from which it is launched and similarly exposed to a target with which the projectile subsequently impacts. In one embodiment, the projectile may be formed with a jacket surrounding a portion of the reactive material to provide additional structural integrity. The projectile may be formed by casting or pressing the reactive material into a desired shape, or the reactive material may be extruded into a near-net shape and then machined into the desired shape.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2012Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Assignee: Orbital ATK, Inc.Inventors: Daniel B. Nielson, Richard M. Truitt, Benjamin N. Ashcroft
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Patent number: 8568541Abstract: A reactive material that includes at least one of a fuel, an oxidizer, and a class 1.1 explosive and is formulated for use in a reactive material projectile. The reactive material is formulated to provide at least one of an overpressure of greater than approximately 9 pounds per square inch at a radial measurement of 12 inches from a point of impact on a target, a hole greater than approximately 2 square inches at an optimum penetration level in a target, and pressure, damage, and a flame when the reactive material bullet impacts a target. The fuel may be a metal, a fusible metal alloy, an organic fuel, or mixtures thereof. The oxidizer may be an inorganic oxidizer, sulfur, a fluoropolymer, or mixtures thereof. A reactive material projectile having the reactive material disposed therein is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2008Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.Inventors: Daniel B. Nielson, Benjamin N. Ashcroft, Daniel W. Doll
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Patent number: 8361258Abstract: A precursor composition of a reactive material that comprises a metal material and an energetic material, such as at least one oxidizer or at least one class 1.1 explosive. The metal material defines a continuous phase at a processing temperature of the precursor composition and the energetic material is dispersed therein. The metal material may be a fusible metal alloy having a melting point ranging from approximately 46° C. to approximately 250° C. The fusible metal alloy may include at least one metal selected from the group consisting of bismuth, lead, tin, cadmium, indium, mercury, antimony, copper, gold, silver, and zinc. The reactive composition may have a density of greater than approximately 2 g/cm3. The reactive composition may also include a polymer/plasticizer system.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2011Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.Inventors: Benjamin N. Ashcroft, Daniel B. Nielson, Daniel W. Doll
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Publication number: 20120167793Abstract: A munition, such as a projectile formed of at least one reactive material. In one embodiment, the projectile includes a body portion formed of at least one reactive material composition wherein the at least one reactive material composition defines at least a portion of an exterior surface of the projectile. In other words, a portion of the reactive material may be left “unbuffered” or exposed to the barrel of a gun or weapon from which it is launched and similarly exposed to a target with which the projectile subsequently impacts. In one embodiment, the projectile may be formed with a jacket surrounding a portion of the reactive material to provide additional structural integrity. The projectile may be formed by casting or pressing the reactive material into a desired shape, or the reactive material may be extruded into a near-net shape and then machined into the desired shape.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2012Publication date: July 5, 2012Applicant: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.Inventors: Daniel B. Nielson, Richard M. Truitt, Benjamin N. Ashcroft
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Publication number: 20120060985Abstract: A precursor composition of a reactive material that comprises a metal material and an energetic material, such as at least one oxidizer or at least one class 1.1 explosive. The metal material defines a continuous phase at a processing temperature of the precursor composition and the energetic material is dispersed therein. The metal material may be a fusible metal alloy having a melting point ranging from approximately 46° C. to approximately 250° C. The fusible metal alloy may include at least one metal selected from the group consisting of bismuth, lead, tin, cadmium, indium, mercury, antimony, copper, gold, silver, and zinc. The reactive composition may have a density of greater than approximately 2 g/cm3. The reactive composition may also include a polymer/plasticizer system.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2011Publication date: March 15, 2012Applicant: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.Inventors: Benjamin N. Ashcroft, Daniel B. Nielson, Daniel W. Doll
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Patent number: 8122833Abstract: A munition, such as a projectile formed of at least one reactive material, is provided. In one embodiment, the projectile includes a body portion formed of at least one reactive material composition wherein the at least one reactive material composition defines at least a portion of an exterior surface of the projectile. In other words, a portion of the reactive material may be left “unbuffered” or exposed to the barrel of a gun or weapon from which it is launched and similarly exposed to a target with which the projectile subsequently impacts. In one embodiment, the projectile may be formed with a jacket surrounding a portion of the reactive material to provide additional structural integrity. The projectile may be formed by casting or pressing the reactive material into a desired shape. In another embodiment of the invention, the reactive material may be extruded into a near-net shape and then machined into the desired shape.Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2006Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.Inventors: Daniel B. Nielson, Richard M. Truitt, Benjamin N. Ashcroft
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Patent number: 8075715Abstract: A precursor composition of a reactive material that comprises a metal material and an energetic material, such as at least one oxidizer or at least one class 1.1 explosive. The metal material defines a continuous phase at a processing temperature of the precursor composition and the energetic material is dispersed therein. The metal material may be a fusible metal alloy having a melting point ranging from approximately 46° C. to approximately 250° C. The fusible metal alloy may include at least one metal selected from the group consisting of bismuth, lead, tin, cadmium, indium, mercury, antimony, copper, gold, silver, and zinc. The reactive composition may have a density of greater than approximately 2 g/cm3. The reactive composition may also include a polymer/plasticizer system.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2007Date of Patent: December 13, 2011Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.Inventors: Benjamin N. Ashcroft, Daniel B. Nielson, Daniel W. Doll
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Patent number: 7977420Abstract: A reactive material that includes at least one binder and at least one fuel, at least one oxidizer, or combinations thereof; at least one metal and at least one fuel; or at least two fuels. The reactive material is used in a reactive material shot shell in which at least a portion of a slug, shot, or combinations thereof are formed from the reactive material.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2007Date of Patent: July 12, 2011Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.Inventors: Daniel B. Nielson, Richard M. Truitt, Rochelle D. Poore, Benjamin N. Ashcroft
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Publication number: 20100276042Abstract: A precursor composition of a reactive material that comprises a metal material and an energetic material, such as at least one oxidizer or at least one class 1.1 explosive. The metal material defines a continuous phase at a processing temperature of the precursor composition and the energetic material is dispersed therein. The metal material may be a fusible metal alloy having a melting point ranging from approximately 46° C. to approximately 250° C. The fusible metal alloy may include at least one metal selected from the group consisting of bismuth, lead, tin, cadmium, indium, mercury, antimony, copper, gold, silver, and zinc. The reactive composition may have a density of greater than approximately 2 g/cm3. The reactive composition may also include a polymer/plasticizer system.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2007Publication date: November 4, 2010Applicant: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.Inventors: Benjamin N. Ashcroft, Daniel B. Nielson, Daniel W. Doll
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Patent number: 7614348Abstract: Weapons, weapon components and related methods are provided. In one embodiment a weapon component includes one or more discrete fragments embedded in a reactive material matrix. The weapon component may be used as a warhead that includes an explosive charge. In one embodiment the weapon component is configured such that, upon explosive launch, the reactive material matrix fractures to define one or more reactive material matrix fragments. The weapon component may be configured such that the discrete fragments are propelled at a first velocity over a defined distance while the reactive material matrix fragments are propelled at a second velocity over the defined distance, the second velocity being less than the first velocity. The weapon component may be used, for example, in a countermeasure weapon used to defeat a target weapon. Other embodiments of weapon components, weapons and related methods are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2006Date of Patent: November 10, 2009Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.Inventors: Richard M. Truitt, Daniel B. Nielson, Benjamin N. Ashcroft, Paul C. Braithwaite, Michael T. Rose, Mark A. Cvetnic
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Publication number: 20090211484Abstract: Weapons, weapon components and related methods are provided. In one embodiment a weapon component includes one or more discrete fragments embedded in a reactive material matrix. The weapon component may be used as a warhead that includes an explosive charge. In one embodiment the weapon component is configured such that, upon explosive launch, the reactive material matrix fractures to define one or more reactive material matrix fragments. The weapon component may be configured such that the discrete fragments are propelled at a first velocity over a defined distance while the reactive material matrix fragments are propelled at a second velocity over the defined distance, the second velocity being less than the first velocity. The weapon component may be used, for example, in a countermeasure weapon used to defeat a target weapon. Other embodiments of weapon components, weapons and related methods are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2006Publication date: August 27, 2009Inventors: Richard M. Truitt, Daniel B. Nielson, Benjamin N. Ashcroft, Paul C. Braithwaite, Michael T. Rose, Mark A. Cvetnic
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Publication number: 20080229963Abstract: A reactive material that includes at least one of a fuel, an oxidizer, and a class 1.1 explosive and is formulated for use in a reactive material projectile. The reactive material is formulated to provide at least one of an overpressure of greater than approximately 9 pounds per square inch at a radial measurement of 12 inches from a point of impact on a target, a hole greater than approximately 2 square inches at an optimum penetration level in a target, and pressure, damage, and a flame when the reactive material bullet impacts a target. The fuel may be a metal, a fusible metal alloy, an organic fuel, or mixtures thereof. The oxidizer may be an inorganic oxidizer, sulfur, a fluoropolymer, or mixtures thereof. A reactive material projectile having the reactive material disposed therein is also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2008Publication date: September 25, 2008Applicant: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.Inventors: Daniel B. Nielson, Benjamin N. Ashcroft, Daniel W. Doll