Patents by Inventor Daniel J. Gramer

Daniel J. Gramer 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: 6865878
    Abstract: A hybrid rocket engine and a method for propelling a rocket utilizing a vortex flow field. The flow field includes an outer fluid vortex spiraling toward a closed end of the flow field generating apparatus and an inner fluid vortex substantially concentric with the outer vortex spiraling away from the closed end and toward an outlet opening in which the inner vortex spirals in the same direction as the outer vortex, but in the opposite axial direction. The invention also relates to a rocket propulsion system utilizing the flow field in which the propulsion system includes a combustion chamber with a fuel source and an oxidizer source that deliver the said fuel and said oxidizer to the said outer and inner vortexes in a manner to support a combustion process while flowing along the flow field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Orbital Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: William H. Knuth, Martin J. Chiaverini, Daniel J. Gramer
  • Publication number: 20040068976
    Abstract: A hybrid rocket engine and a method for propelling a rocket utilizing a vortex flow field. The flow field includes an outer fluid vortex spiraling toward a closed end of the flow field generating apparatus and an inner fluid vortex substantially concentric with the outer vortex spiraling away from the closed end and toward an outlet opening in which the inner vortex spirals in the same direction as the outer vortex, but in the opposite axial direction. The invention also relates to a rocket propulsion system utilizing the flow field in which the propulsion system includes a combustion chamber with a fuel source and an oxidizer source that deliver the said fuel and said oxidizer to the said outer and inner vortexes in a manner to support a combustion process while flowing along the flow field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventors: William H. Knuth, Martin J. Chiaverini, Daniel J. Gramer
  • Patent number: 6601380
    Abstract: A hybrid rocket engine and a method for propelling a rocket utilizing a vortex flow field. The flow field includes an outer fluid vortex spiraling toward a closed end of the flow field generating apparatus and an inner fluid vortex substantially concentric with the outer vortex spiraling away from the closed end and toward an outlet opening in which the inner vortex spirals in the same direction as the outer vortex, but in the opposite axial direction. The invention also relates to a rocket propulsion system utilizing the flow field in which the propulsion system includes a combustion chamber with a fuel source and an oxidizer source that deliver the said fuel and said oxidizer to the said outer and inner vortexes in a manner to support a combustion process while flowing along the flow field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: Orbital Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: William H. Knuth, Martin J. Chiaverini, Daniel J. Gramer
  • Patent number: 6590403
    Abstract: A material regression sensor and a method of measuring the regression of a material in which the regression sensor includes spaced electrically conductive legs, and electrically conductive sensor element position between the legs and measurement leads electrically connected with the first and second legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Orbital Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel J. Gramer, Thomas J. Taagen
  • Publication number: 20020069636
    Abstract: A hybrid rocket engine and a method for propelling a rocket utilizing a vortex flow field. The flow field includes an outer fluid vortex spiraling toward a closed end of the flow field generating apparatus and an inner fluid vortex substantially concentric with the outer vortex spiraling away from the closed end and toward an outlet opening in which the inner vortex spirals in the same direction as the outer vortex, but in the opposite axial direction. The invention also relates to a rocket propulsion system utilizing the flow field in which the propulsion system includes a combustion chamber with a fuel source and an oxidizer source that deliver the said fuel and said oxidizer to the said outer and inner vortexes in a manner to support a combustion process while flowing along the flow field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Inventors: William H. Knuth, Martin J. Chiaverini, Daniel J. Gramer
  • Patent number: 6298659
    Abstract: A vortex flow field and an apparatus and a method to produce and sustain it. The flow field includes an outer fluid vortex spiraling toward a closed end of the flow field generating apparatus and an inner fluid vortex substantially concentric with the outer vortex spiraling away from the closed end and toward an outlet opening in which the inner vortex spirals in the same direction as the outer vortex, but in the opposite axial direction. The invention also relates to a rocket propulsion system utilizing the flow field in which the propulsion system includes a combustion chamber with a fuel source and an oxidizer source flowing along the flow field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Orbital Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: William H. Knuth, Martin J. Chiaverini, Daniel J. Gramer
  • Patent number: 6101808
    Abstract: A cryogenic solid hybrid engine with a solid propellant chamber, a first propellant within such chamber in which the first propellant is in solid form in the chamber and is in fluid form at room temperature, a coolant fluid chamber and a coolant fluid in the coolant fluid chamber being maintained at a temperature blow the freezing point of the first propellant. The invention also relates to a method for propelling a rocket and a method for forming a solid propellant grain for use in a cryogenic solid hybrid rocket engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Orbital Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: William H. Knuth, Eric E. Rice, Darin R. Kohles, Christopher P. St. Clair, Daniel J. Gramer