Patents by Inventor Carl Knowlen

Carl Knowlen 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: 11365943
    Abstract: A baffled ram accelerator system includes a ram accelerator tube with an inner surface and an outer surface and a plurality of baffles disposed on the inner surface. The plurality of baffles forms a sequential series of propellant chambers along the longitudinal axis of the ram accelerator tube. An accelerator gun is also disposed on an input end of the ram accelerator tube, and the accelerator gun is positioned to fire a projectile into the ram accelerator tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: University of Washington through its Center for Commercialization
    Inventors: Carl Knowlen, Adam P. Bruckner, Andrew J. Higgins, Viggo Hansen
  • Publication number: 20210180893
    Abstract: A baffled ram accelerator system includes a ram accelerator tube with an inner surface and an outer surface and a plurality of baffles disposed on the inner surface. The plurality of baffles forms a sequential series of propellant chambers along the longitudinal axis of the ram accelerator tube. An accelerator gun is also disposed on an input end of the ram accelerator tube, and the accelerator gun is positioned to fire a projectile into the ram accelerator tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
    Inventors: Carl Knowlen, Adam P. Bruckner, Andrew J. Higgins, Viggo Hansen
  • Patent number: 10852081
    Abstract: A baffled ram accelerator system includes a ram accelerator tube with an inner surface and an outer surface and a plurality of baffles disposed on the inner surface. The plurality of baffles forms a sequential series of propellant chambers along the longitudinal axis of the ram accelerator tube. An accelerator gun is also disposed on an input end of the ram accelerator tube, and the accelerator gun is positioned to fire a projectile into the ram accelerator tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: Carl Knowlen, Adam P. Bruckner, Andrew J. Higgins, Viggo Hansen
  • Patent number: 10384180
    Abstract: Apparatuses and associated methods for forming olefins from saturated hydrocarbon feedstock are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a carrier gas is introduced at a supersonic velocity to a feedstock injector section. A feedstock gas is introduced to the carrier gas stream using feedstock injectors that are offset in the streamwise direction one from another. The upstream feedstock injectors are positioned to inject feedstock gas to create plumes that improve penetration depth of the feedstock gas and reduce pressure losses at the downstream feedstock injectors. The feedstock gas can be regeneratively preheated by cooling the convergent-divergent nozzle. Water, steam and/or hydrogen gas can be injected into the apparatus for cooling the throat of the convergent-divergent nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: Carl Knowlen, Arthur T. Mattick, Carl J. Stevens, Robert Cerff, Viggo Hansen
  • Publication number: 20190195579
    Abstract: A baffled ram accelerator system includes a ram accelerator tube with an inner surface and an outer surface and a plurality of baffles disposed on the inner surface. The plurality of baffles forms a sequential series of propellant chambers along the longitudinal axis of the ram accelerator tube. An accelerator gun is also disposed on an input end of the ram accelerator tube, and the accelerator gun is positioned to fire a projectile into the ram accelerator tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
    Inventors: Carl Knowlen, Adam P. Bruckner, Andrew J. Higgins, Viggo Hansen
  • Patent number: 10132578
    Abstract: A baffled ram accelerator system includes a ram accelerator tube with an inner surface and an outer surface and a plurality of baffles disposed on the inner surface. The plurality of baffles forms a sequential series of propellant chambers along the longitudinal axis of the ram accelerator tube. An accelerator gun is also disposed on an input end of the ram accelerator tube, and the accelerator gun is positioned to fire a projectile into the ram accelerator tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: Carl Knowlen, Adam P. Bruckner, Andrew J. Higgins, Viggo Hansen
  • Publication number: 20170307313
    Abstract: A baffled ram accelerator system includes a ram accelerator tube with an inner surface and an outer surface and a plurality of baffles disposed on the inner surface. The plurality of baffles forms a sequential series of propellant chambers along the longitudinal axis of the ram accelerator tube. An accelerator gun is also disposed on an input end of the ram accelerator tube, and the accelerator gun is positioned to fire a projectile into the ram accelerator tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2015
    Publication date: October 26, 2017
    Inventors: Carl KNOWLEN, Adam P. BRUCKNER, Andrew J. HIGGINS, Viggo HANSEN
  • Publication number: 20160296904
    Abstract: Apparatuses and associated methods for forming olefins from saturated hydrocarbon feedstock are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a carrier gas is introduced at a supersonic velocity to a feedstock injector section. A feedstock gas is introduced tot he carrier gas stream using feedstock injectors that are offset in the streamwise direction one from another. The upstream feedstock injectors are positioned to inject feedstock gas to create plumes that improve penetration depth of the feedstock gas and reduce pressure losses at the downstream feedstock injectors. The feedstock gas can be regeneratively preheated by cooling the convergent-divergent nozzle. Water, steam and/or hydrogen gas can be injected into the apparatus for cooling the throat of the convergent-divergent nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventors: Carl KNOWLEN, Arthur T. MATTICK, Carl J. STEVENS, Robert CERFF, Viggo HANSEN
  • Patent number: 5097743
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for initiating a ram acceleration of a projectile that is at rest. A projectile (34) is positioned in a starting chamber (14) of a launch tube (12). Starting chamber (14) is either filled with a gas at a relatively low pressure or is substantially evacuated. A wave reflection disk (42/42') is positioned a short distance behind the projectile. Downstream of the starting chamber are a plurality of segments, including a first segment (16), which is filled with a combustible gas mixture at a substantially higher pressure than that in the starting chamber. The first segment is separated from the starting chamber by a pair of thin membranes (20a and 20b). These membranes have a characteristic burst pressure that is about midway between the differential pressure in the first segment and the starting chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Assignee: Washington Research Foundation
    Inventors: Abraham Hertzberg, Adam P. Bruckner, Carl Knowlen, Keith A. McFall
  • Patent number: 4982647
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for supersonically accelerating a projectile in a thermally choked subsonic combustion mode. A projectile (50) is initially preaccelerated using either a tank (24) of compressed helium or a chemical propellant charge preaccelerator (152). The projectile enters a portion of a tube (22) filled with a combustible mixture (54) of a gaseous fuel and an oxidizer and is propelled by a ram acceleration process as the mixture burns. In several different embodiments, various devices are used to control the velocity of a shock wave generated as the projectile enters the combustible mixture and the dynamic impulse pressure immediately behind the projectile, so that the shock wave attaches to the projectile along an aft portion, thereby establishing a stable subsonic combustion zone along the aft end (64) of the projectile, in which combustion of the gaseous fuel accelerates the projectile down the bore of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1991
    Assignee: Washington Research Foundation
    Inventors: Abraham Hertzberg, Adam P. Bruckner, David W. Bogdanoff, Carl Knowlen