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).
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Patent number: 11365943Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 16, 2020Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: University of Washington through its Center for CommercializationInventors: Carl Knowlen, Adam P. Bruckner, Andrew J. Higgins, Viggo Hansen
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Publication number: 20210180893Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2020Publication date: June 17, 2021Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTONInventors: Carl Knowlen, Adam P. Bruckner, Andrew J. Higgins, Viggo Hansen
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Patent number: 10852081Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 19, 2018Date of Patent: December 1, 2020Assignee: University of WashingtonInventors: Carl Knowlen, Adam P. Bruckner, Andrew J. Higgins, Viggo Hansen
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Patent number: 10384180Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 19, 2014Date of Patent: August 20, 2019Assignee: University of WashingtonInventors: Carl Knowlen, Arthur T. Mattick, Carl J. Stevens, Robert Cerff, Viggo Hansen
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Publication number: 20190195579Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2018Publication date: June 27, 2019Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTONInventors: Carl Knowlen, Adam P. Bruckner, Andrew J. Higgins, Viggo Hansen
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Patent number: 10132578Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 7, 2015Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Assignee: University of WashingtonInventors: Carl Knowlen, Adam P. Bruckner, Andrew J. Higgins, Viggo Hansen
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Publication number: 20170307313Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2015Publication date: October 26, 2017Inventors: Carl KNOWLEN, Adam P. BRUCKNER, Andrew J. HIGGINS, Viggo HANSEN
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Publication number: 20160296904Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2014Publication date: October 13, 2016Inventors: Carl KNOWLEN, Arthur T. MATTICK, Carl J. STEVENS, Robert CERFF, Viggo HANSEN
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Patent number: 5097743Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 14, 1990Date of Patent: March 24, 1992Assignee: Washington Research FoundationInventors: Abraham Hertzberg, Adam P. Bruckner, Carl Knowlen, Keith A. McFall
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Patent number: 4982647Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 16, 1988Date of Patent: January 8, 1991Assignee: Washington Research FoundationInventors: Abraham Hertzberg, Adam P. Bruckner, David W. Bogdanoff, Carl Knowlen