Patents by Inventor Charles A. Vickery

Charles A. Vickery 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).

  • Rocket exhaust plume signature tailoring
    Patent number: 6684622
    Abstract: Methods and arrangements for tailoring rocket exhaust plume signatures of rocket exhaust systems are disclosed. The tailoring of the rocket exhaust plume signature is accomplished by providing and locating at least one structure having materials and/or additives that modify the radiant intensity pattern of the rocket exhaust plume upon ablation or melting into the rocket exhaust plume. The materials and/or additives can be manufactured or incorporated into preexisting ablative materials of the rocket exhaust system or be provided as stand-alone structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Charles A. Vickery, Jerry N. Mason, William D. Kruse, Mark Olmos
  • External system and method for rocket exhaust plume signature tailoring
    Patent number: 6655124
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for tailoring rocket exhaust plume signatures of fuel-propelled vehicles. An uncombusted fuel is injected or sprayed into the exhaust plume of an ignited rocket. The injected or sprayed fuel modifies the rocket exhaust plume to simulate an exhaust plume of a different vehicle. One or more parameters associated with the injected or sprayed fuel can be modified, so that appropriate tailoring can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Charles A. Vickery, William D. Kruse, Mark Olmos
  • ROCKET EXHAUST PLUME SIGNATURE TAILORING
    Publication number: 20030159426
    Abstract: Methods and arrangements for tailoring rocket exhaust plume signatures of rocket exhaust systems are disclosed. The tailoring of the rocket exhaust plume signature is accomplished by providing and locating at least one structure having materials and/or additives that modify the radiant intensity pattern of the rocket exhaust plume upon ablation or melting into the rocket exhaust plume. The materials and/or additives can be manufactured or incorporated into preexisting ablative materials of the rocket exhaust system or be provided as stand-alone structures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventors: Charles A. Vickery, Jerry N. Mason, William D. Kruse, Mark Olmos
  • External system and method for rocket exhaust plume signature tailoring
    Publication number: 20030159427
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for tailoring rocket exhaust plume signatures of fuel-propelled vehicles. An uncombusted fuel is injected or sprayed into the exhaust plume of an ignited rocket. The injected or sprayed fuel modifies the rocket exhaust plume to simulate an exhaust plume of a different vehicle. One or more parameters associated with the injected or sprayed fuel can be modified, so that appropriate tailoring can be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventors: Charles A. Vickery, William D. Kruse, Mark Olmos