Patents by Inventor Charles E. Grix

Charles E. Grix 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: 8888935
    Abstract: A composition capable of producing either solid propellant grains, liquid or gel monopropellants, all of which are electrically ignitable and capable of sustained controllable combustion at ambient pressure. Additional compositions capable of sustained controllable combustion at elevated pressures are described. Applications for the compositions disclosed herein are provided, and include among other applications use in small micro thrusters, large core-burning solid propellant gains, shaped explosives charges for military application, and pumpable liquids and gel monopropellants or explosives for military, commercial mining or gas and oil recovery. In alternative embodiments the above compositions may also incorporate an energetic nitrate polymer, bum rate modifiers, and/or metal fuel(s). The HIPEP formulation makes it possible to ignite and sustain combustion at ambient and vacuum conditions (a) without continuous electrical power and (b) while providing faster bum rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Digital Solid State Propulsion, LLC
    Inventors: Charles E. Grix, Wayne N. Sawka
  • Patent number: 8317953
    Abstract: A new process for forming MICs as well as three exemplary categories of MIC formulations is disclosed. MICs disclosed herein include a first exemplary category for which combustion can be initiated and sustained by either a heat (flame) source or electrical power, a second exemplary category of formulations that can be ignited and that sustain combustion at low pressures only with electrical power and a third exemplary category of formulations that can be ignited and extinguished at low pressures only with electrical power. The new process of MIC formulation provides energetic liquid oxidizers in place of traditional solvents, thus eliminating the need for solvent extraction. The energetic liquid oxidizer serves as a medium in which to suspend and grow the 3D nanostructure formed by the cross linked polymer (PVA). As a consequence, the 3D nanostructure entraps the liquid oxidizer, preventing it from evaporating and thereby eliminating the need for solvent extraction, preserves the 3D nanostructure shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Digital Solid State Propulsion, LLC
    Inventors: Wayne N. Sawka, Charles E. Grix
  • Publication number: 20110067789
    Abstract: A composition capable of producing either solid propellant grains, liquid or gel monopropellants, all of which are electrically ignitable and capable of sustained controllable combustion at ambient pressure. Additional compositions capable of sustained controllable combustion at elevated pressures are described. Applications for the compositions disclosed herein are provided, and include among other applications use in small micro thrusters, large core-burning solid propellant gains, shaped explosives charges for military application, and pumpable liquids and gel monopropellants or explosives for military, commercial mining or gas and oil recovery. In alternative embodiments the above compositions may also incorporate an energetic nitrate polymer, bum rate modifiers, and/or metal fuel(s). The HIPEP formulation makes it possible to ignite and sustain combustion at ambient and vacuum conditions (a) without continuous electrical power and (b) while providing faster bum rates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Applicant: DIGITAL SOLID STATE PROPULSION, LLC
    Inventors: Charles E. Grix, Wayne N. Sawka
  • Patent number: 5863438
    Abstract: Processes for deionization and demineralization of a fluid containing ions comprising:(a) Loading an amine or ammonia buffer onto a first weakly acidic cation exchange resin to occupy cation exchange sites and to form a first bed comprising a first amine-buffered resin;(b) Passing said fluid containing ions through said first bed comprising said first amine-buffered resin and exchanging cations of said fluid for amine cations of said first amine-buffered resin to form a first effluent comprising an anion-buffer salt complex;(c) Passing said anion-buffer salt complex through a first weakly basic anion exchange resin where an anion portion of said anion-buffer salt complex is split from said anion-buffer salt complex by adsorption of said anion portion onto said weakly basic anion exchange resin to form a second effluent comprising buffer in free hydrated base form;(d) Passing said buffer in free hydrated base form to a second weakly acidic cation exchange resin where said buffer loads onto said second weakly a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Culligan International Company
    Inventors: Arthur Katzakian, Jr., Donald C. McGehee, Charles E. Grix, Frank A. Brigano
  • Patent number: 5847315
    Abstract: An ignitable solid gas generating composition comprises a polyalkylammonium binder, usually polyvinylamine nitrate or polyethyleneimmonium nitrate, an oxidizer mixture comprising ammonium nitrate and a first additive which produces an eutectic melt which is liquid at a temperature well below the melting point of the ammonium nitrate as well as that of the first additive, and an additional quantity of the ammonium nitrate and a second additive. Further, combustion modifier additives may be added to the composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Ecotech
    Inventors: Arthur Katzakian, Jr., Henry Cheung, Charles E. Grix, Donald C. McGehee
  • Patent number: 5665239
    Abstract: Processes for deionization and demineralization of a fluid containing ions comprising:(a) Loading an amine or ammonia buffer onto a first weakly acidic cation exchange resin to occupy cation exchange sites and to form a first bed comprising a first amine-buffered resin;(b) Passing said fluid containing ions through said first bed comprising said first amine-buffered resin and exchanging cations of said fluid for amine cations of said first amine-buffered resin to form a first effluent comprising an anion-buffer salt complex;(c) Passing said anion-buffer salt complex through a first weakly basic anion exchange resin where an anion portion of said anion-buffer salt complex is split from said anion-buffer salt complex by adsorption of said anion portion onto said weakly basic anion exchange resin to form a second effluent comprising buffer in free hydrated base form;(d) Passing said buffer in free hydrated base form to a second weakly acidic cation exchange resin where said buffer loads onto said second weakly a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: Culligan International Company
    Inventors: Arthur Katzakian, Jr., Donald C. McGehee, Charles E. Grix, Frank A. Brigano
  • Patent number: 5665783
    Abstract: A composition for regenerating spent weak cation exchange resin and a method of utilization including salts of .alpha.-hydroxy carboxylic acids or o-hydroxy benzoic acids. The following steps are employed in cyclically regenerating polycarboxylic acid cation exchange resins: (a) utilizing a charged or alkali metal salt of polycarboxylate acid cation resin to soften water; (b) regenerating the spent resin in one step with an active regenerant of the .alpha.-hydroxy carboxylic acids or o-hydroxy benzoic acids to produce spent regenerant; (c) precipitating the polyvalent hard ions in the spent regenerant with sodium or potassium carbonate to reform the active regenerant; (d) separating the precipitate; and (e) concentrating the dilute active regenerate solution to its approximate initial concentration and recovering of water for process rinses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: Ecotech
    Inventors: Arthur Katzakian, Jr., Henry Cheung, Charles E. Grix, Donald C. McGehee