Patents by Inventor Byron Henning

Byron Henning 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: 10920714
    Abstract: A hybrid rocket engine is described that achieves stable, highly efficient hybrid combustion by having a core flow of fuel-rich gas generator gases, with the flow being surrounded with an annular injection of oxidizer. The fuel-rich gas serves to vaporize and decompose the oxidizer, such as nitrous oxide, and prepare it for effective, stable combustion. In one embodiment, this is done at the head-end of a combustion chamber. The combustion products can then be expanded through a nozzle to create thrust. The engine can be an upper stage engine that can include modular thrust chambers and an integrated aerospike nozzle. The thrust chambers can be arranged in an array that rings the top of the aerospike nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: EXQUADRUM, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin E. Mahaffy, Byron Henning, Korey Robert Kline, Philip Pelfrey, Eric Schmidt, Elias Wilson
  • Publication number: 20160032867
    Abstract: A hybrid rocket engine is described that achieves stable, highly efficient hybrid combustion by having a core flow of fuel-rich gas generator gases, with the flow being surrounded with an annular injection of oxidizer. The fuel-rich gas serves to vaporize and decompose the oxidizer, such as nitrous oxide, and prepare it for effective, stable combustion. In one embodiment, this is done at the head-end of a combustion chamber. The combustion products can then be expanded through a nozzle to create thrust. The engine can be an upper stage engine that can include modular thrust chambers and an integrated aerospike nozzle. The thrust chambers can be arranged in an array that rings the top of the aerospike nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Applicant: Exquadrum, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin E. MAHAFFY, Byron HENNING, Korey Robert KLINE, Philip PELFREY, Eric Schmidt, Elias Wilson
  • Patent number: 8164213
    Abstract: An orbital track wind turbine for generation of electrical energy from wind power is provided. The wind turbine includes a plurality of spaced vertical supports to which at least two parallel spaced circular tracks are fixedly secured. These circular tracks are coaxial with one another and are positioned in parallel horizontal planes. A plurality of trucks extend between the circular tracks, the trucks having at least two grooved rollers which partially surround the circular tracks and operate in rolling engagement therewith. A circular power takeoff ring is coaxial with said circular tracks, and the power takeoff ring is attached to the truck which is rotatable in a horizontal plane about its central axis. A plurality of vertical airfoils extends around the circular power takeoff ring, with each of the airfoils being attached to a truck and the power takeoff ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Exquadrum, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin E. Mahaffy, Eric E. Schmidt, Ricky Howard, Byron Henning
  • Publication number: 20110018280
    Abstract: An orbital track wind turbine for generation of electrical energy from wind power is provided. The wind turbine includes a plurality of spaced vertical supports to which at least two parallel spaced circular tracks are fixedly secured. These circular tracks are coaxial with one another and are positioned in parallel horizontal planes. A plurality of trucks extend between the circular tracks, the trucks having at least two grooved rollers which partially surround the circular tracks and operate in rolling engagement therewith. A circular power takeoff ring is coaxial with said circular tracks, and the power takeoff ring is attached to the truck which is rotatable in a horizontal plane about its central axis. A plurality of vertical airfoils extends around the circular power takeoff ring, with each of the airfoils being attached to a truck and the power takeoff ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Applicant: EXQUADRUM, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin E. Mahaffy, Eric E. Schmidt, Ricky Howard, Byron Henning