Patents by Inventor Daniel B. Nielson

Daniel B. Nielson 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: 11920910
    Abstract: A composition comprising boron, potassium ferricyanide, and at least one of an oxidizer, a nitramine, a binder, and an additive. Also disclosed are additional compositions, countermeasure devices including the composition, and a method of using the countermeasure device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel B. Nielson, Curtis W. Fielding
  • Patent number: 11014859
    Abstract: A composition that includes a fuel and a perfluoropolyether (PFPE) is disclosed. The composition may be used as a flare composition in a countermeasure device. Countermeasure devices including the flare composition are also disclosed, as are methods of forming grains of the countermeasure device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel B. Nielson, Curtis W. Fielding
  • Patent number: 10647620
    Abstract: Flares with consumable weights connected to a forward end of the grain of the flare are disclosed. Also disclosed are consumable weight components for flares. The consumable weight components include a metal material within a matrix. Also disclosed are methods for fabricating a flare and methods for using a flare. Use of the consumable weights in the flares may reduce the amount of debris falling to ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey F. Widener, Daniel B. Nielson
  • Patent number: 10479738
    Abstract: A composition that includes a fuel and a perfluoropolyether (PFPE) is disclosed. The composition may be used as a flare composition in a countermeasure device. Countermeasure devices including the flare composition are also disclosed, as are methods of forming grains of the countermeasure device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel B. Nielson, Curtis W. Fielding
  • Publication number: 20190169082
    Abstract: A composition that includes a fuel and a perfluoropolyether (PFPE) is disclosed. The composition may be used as a flare composition in a countermeasure device. Countermeasure devices including the flare composition are also disclosed, as are methods of forming grains of the countermeasure device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2019
    Publication date: June 6, 2019
    Inventors: Daniel B. Nielson, Curtis W. Fielding
  • Publication number: 20190100473
    Abstract: A composition that includes a fuel and a perfluoropolyether (PFPE) is disclosed. The composition may be used as a flare composition in a countermeasure device. Countermeasure devices including the flare composition are also disclosed, as are methods of forming grains of the countermeasure device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: Daniel B. Nielson, Curtis W. Fielding
  • Publication number: 20190055170
    Abstract: Flares with consumable weights connected to a forward end of the grain of the flare are disclosed. Also disclosed are consumable weight components for flares. The consumable weight components include a metal material within a matrix. Also disclosed are methods for fabricating a flare and methods for using a flare. Use of the consumable weights in the flares may reduce the amount of debris falling to ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Inventors: Jeffrey F. Widener, Daniel B. Nielson
  • Patent number: 10173944
    Abstract: A composition that includes a fuel and a perfluoropolyether (PFPE) is disclosed. The composition may be used as a flare composition in a countermeasure device. Countermeasure devices including the flare composition are also disclosed, as are methods of forming grains of the countermeasure device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN INNOVATIONS SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel B. Nielson, Curtis W. Fielding
  • Patent number: 10155700
    Abstract: Flares with consumable weights connected to a forward end of the grain of the flare are disclosed. Also disclosed are consumable weight components for flares. The consumable weight components include a metal material within a matrix. Also disclosed are methods for fabricating a flare and methods for using a flare. Use of the consumable weights in the flares may reduce the amount of debris falling to ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey F. Widener, Daniel B. Nielson
  • Patent number: 9982981
    Abstract: A munition, such as a projectile formed of at least one reactive material. In one embodiment, the projectile includes a body portion formed of at least one reactive material composition wherein the at least one reactive material composition defines at least a portion of an exterior surface of the projectile. In other words, a portion of the reactive material may be left “unbuffered” or exposed to the barrel of a gun or weapon from which it is launched and similarly exposed to a target with which the projectile subsequently impacts. In one embodiment, the projectile may be formed with a jacket surrounding a portion of the reactive material to provide additional structural integrity. The projectile may be formed by casting or pressing the reactive material into a desired shape, or the reactive material may be extruded into a near-net shape and then machined into the desired shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Orbital ATK, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel B. Nielson, Richard M. Truitt, Benjamin N. Ashcroft
  • Patent number: 9365465
    Abstract: An illumination composition comprising at least one oxidizer, at least one of a fuel and a binder, and at least one combustion rate modifier. The at least one oxidizer is selected from the group consisting of a potassium-containing oxidizer and a rubidium-containing oxidizer, the at least one oxidizer present in the illumination composition at from about 50 wt % to about 70 wt % and comprising particles each independently having a size within a range of from about 25 ?m to about 325 ?m. Additional illumination compositions, illumination flares, and methods of illuminating a target are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Orbital ATK, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel B. Nielson, Royce C. Duke, Curtis W. Fielding
  • Publication number: 20160107949
    Abstract: A composition that includes a fuel and a perfluoropolyether (PFPE) is disclosed. The composition may be used as a flare composition in a countermeasure device. Countermeasure devices including the flare composition are also disclosed, as are methods of forming grains of the countermeasure device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventors: Daniel B. Nielson, Curtis W. Fielding
  • Publication number: 20160075614
    Abstract: Flares with consumable weights connected to a forward end of the grain of the flare are disclosed. Also disclosed are consumable weight components for flares. The consumable weight components include a metal material within a matrix. Also disclosed are methods for fabricating a flare and methods for using a flare. Use of the consumable weights in the flares may reduce the amount of debris falling to ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: Jeffrey F. Widener, Daniel B. Nielson
  • Patent number: 9194669
    Abstract: Flares with consumable weights connected to a forward end of the grain of the flare are disclosed. Also disclosed are consumable weight components for flares. The consumable weight components include a metal material within a matrix. Also disclosed are methods for fabricating a flare and methods for using a flare. Use of the consumable weights in the flares may reduce the amount of debris falling to ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: ORBITAL ATK, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey F. Widener, Daniel B. Nielson
  • Publication number: 20150292846
    Abstract: A munition, such as a projectile formed of at least one reactive material. In one embodiment, the projectile includes a body portion formed of at least one reactive material composition wherein the at least one reactive material composition defines at least a portion of an exterior surface of the projectile. In other words, a portion of the reactive material may be left “unbuffered” or exposed to the barrel of a gun or weapon from which it is launched and similarly exposed to a target with which the projectile subsequently impacts. In one embodiment, the projectile may be formed with a jacket surrounding a portion of the reactive material to provide additional structural integrity. The projectile may be formed by casting or pressing the reactive material into a desired shape, or the reactive material may be extruded into a near-net shape and then machined into the desired shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2015
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Inventors: Daniel B. Nielson, Richard M. Truitt, Benjamin N. Ashcroft
  • Publication number: 20150266792
    Abstract: An illumination composition comprising at least one oxidizer, at least one of a fuel and a binder, and at least one combustion rate modifier. The at least one oxidizer is selected from the group consisting of a potassium-containing oxidizer and a rubidium-containing oxidizer, the at least one oxidizer present in the illumination composition at from about 50 wt % to about 70 wt % and comprising particles each independently having a size within a range of from about 25 ?m to about 325 ?m. Additional illumination compositions, illumination flares, and methods of illuminating a target are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventors: Daniel B. Nielson, Royce C. Duke, Curtis W. Fielding
  • Publication number: 20150259262
    Abstract: A composition comprising boron, potassium ferricyanide, and at least one of an oxidizer, a nitramine, a binder, and an additive. Also disclosed are additional compositions, countermeasure devices including the composition, and a method of using the countermeasure device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventors: Daniel B. Nielson, Curtis W. Fielding
  • Patent number: 9103641
    Abstract: A munition, such as a projectile formed of at least one reactive material. In one embodiment, the projectile includes a body portion formed of at least one reactive material composition wherein the at least one reactive material composition defines at least a portion of an exterior surface of the projectile. In other words, a portion of the reactive material may be left “unbuffered” or exposed to the barrel of a gun or weapon from which it is launched and similarly exposed to a target with which the projectile subsequently impacts. In one embodiment, the projectile may be formed with a jacket surrounding a portion of the reactive material to provide additional structural integrity. The projectile may be formed by casting or pressing the reactive material into a desired shape, or the reactive material may be extruded into a near-net shape and then machined into the desired shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Orbital ATK, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel B. Nielson, Richard M. Truitt, Benjamin N. Ashcroft
  • Publication number: 20150203415
    Abstract: A reactive material that includes at least one of a fuel, an oxidizer, and a class 1.1 explosive and is formulated for use in a reactive material projectile. The reactive material is formulated to provide at least one of an overpressure of greater than approximately 9 pounds per square inch at a radial measurement of 12 inches from a point of impact on a target, a hole greater than approximately 2 square inches at an optimum penetration level in a target, and pressure, damage, and a flame when the reactive material bullet impacts a target. The fuel may be a metal, a fusible metal alloy, an organic fuel, or mixtures thereof. The oxidizer may be an inorganic oxidizer, sulfur, a fluoropolymer, or mixtures thereof. A reactive material projectile having the reactive material disposed therein is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Publication date: July 23, 2015
    Applicant: Alliant Techsystems Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel B. Nielson, Benjamim N. Ashcroft, Daniel W. Doll
  • Patent number: RE45899
    Abstract: A reactive material for use as a reactive liner in penetrating (shape-charge) warheads and for use in reactive fragments in fragmenting warheads is disclosed. The reactive material comprises an oxidizing agent and a metal filler or metal/metal oxide filler. The oxidizing agent comprises a fluoropolymer having high fluorine content, a low melt temperature, and a high mechanical strength. Preferably, the fluoropolymer is a thermoplastic fluoropolymer, such as a polymer of tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene, and vinylidene fluoride. The metal filler comprises a high density, reactive metal. Preferably, the metal filler is hafnium or tantalum. The reactive material is safely processed at temperatures significantly below the thermal autoignition point of the reactive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Orbital ATK, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel B. Nielson, Richard M. Truitt, Nikki Rasmussen