Patents by Inventor David Franklin Plant

David Franklin Plant 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).

  • Publication number: 20240062918
    Abstract: A control system manipulates one or more of the shape, timing, and magnitude of a pressure pulse (“plasma pulse trajectory”) generated by a plasma compression system to implode a liquid liner surrounding a cavity containing plasma, thereby compressing the plasma. The liquid liner and cavity are created by rotating a liquid medium in a vessel. Compression drivers extend perpendicularly around the liquid medium's rotational axis. Multiple layers of compression drivers are stacked in an axial direction parallel to the rotational axis to form multiple pressure zones extending along the rotational axis. The control system separately controls each pressure zone, or groups of pressure zones, to generate individual pressure pulses each having a different pressure pulse trajectory in each pressure zone. The multiple individual pressure pulses collectively form a combined pressure pulse having a pressure pulse trajectory that varies along the rotational axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2021
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: Michel Georges LABERGE, David Franklin PLANT, Raphael SEGAS, William Randolph SMITH, II
  • Patent number: 11064601
    Abstract: Examples of systems for imploding liquid liner are described. The imploding system comprises a vessel and a rotating member positioned within the vessel. The rotating member has a plurality of shaped blades that form a plurality of curved passages that have an inboard opening at an inner surface and an outboard end at an outer surface. The rotating member is at least partially filled with liquid medium. A driver is used to rotate the rotating member such that when the rotating member rotates the liquid medium is forced into the passages forming a liquid liner with an interface curved with respect to an axis of rotation and defining a cavity. The system further comprises an implosion driver that changes the rotational speed of the rotating member such that the liquid liner is imploded inwardly collapsing the cavity. The imploding liquid liner can be used in plasma compression systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Inventors: Joerg Zimmermann, David Franklin Plant, Robert Vlastimil Bouchal, Troy Nickolas Tyler, Victoria Suponitsky, Michael Harcourt Delage, Michel Georges Laberge, Malcolm Newton Williams
  • Patent number: 10798808
    Abstract: Examples of systems for forming cavity and a liquid liner are described. The system comprises a vessel and a rotating member positioned within the vessel and rotatable about an axis of rotation. The rotating member has an inner surface 5 curved with respect to the axis of rotation, an outer and plurality of fluid passages that each has an inboard opening at the inner surface and an outboard opening at the outer surface. The rotating member is filled with a liquid medium and a rotational driver rotates the rotating member such that when rotating the liquid medium at least partially fills the fluid passages forming liquid liner, defining the 10 cavity. The cavity formation system is used in a liquid liner implosion system with an implosion driver that causes the liquid liner to implode inwardly collapsing the cavity. The imploding liquid liner system can be used in plasma compression systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: General Fusion Inc.
    Inventors: Joerg Zimmermann, David Franklin Plant, Robert Vlastimil Bouchal, Troy Nickolas Tyler, Victoria Suponitsky, Michael Harcourt Delage, Michel Georges Laberge
  • Publication number: 20200245445
    Abstract: Examples of systems for forming cavity and a liquid liner are described. The system comprises a vessel and a rotating member positioned within the vessel and rotatable about an axis of rotation. The rotating member has an inner surface 5 curved with respect to the axis of rotation, an outer and plurality of fluid passages that each has an inboard opening at the inner surface and an outboard opening at the outer surface. The rotating member is filled with a liquid medium and a rotational driver rotates the rotating member such that when rotating the liquid medium at least partially fills the fluid passages forming liquid liner, defining the 10 cavity. The cavity formation system is used in a liquid liner implosion system with an implosion driver that causes the liquid liner to implode inwardly collapsing the cavity. The imploding liquid liner system can be used in plasma compression systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventors: Joerg ZIMMERMANN, David Franklin PLANT, Robert Vlastimil BOUCHAL, Troy Nickolas TYLER, Victoria SUPONITSKY, Michael Harcourt DELAGE, Michel Georges LABERGE
  • Publication number: 20200236770
    Abstract: Examples of systems for imploding liquid liner are described. The imploding system comprises a vessel and a rotating member positioned within the vessel. The rotating member has a plurality of shaped blades that form a plurality of curved passages that have an inboard opening at an inner surface and an outboard end at an outer surface. The rotating member is at least partially filled with liquid medium. A driver is used to rotate the rotating member such that when the rotating member rotates the liquid medium is forced into the passages forming a liquid liner with an interface curved with respect to an axis of rotation and defining a cavity. The system further comprises an implosion driver that changes the rotational speed of the rotating member such that the liquid liner is imploded inwardly collapsing the cavity. The imploding liquid liner can be used in plasma compression systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2018
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Joerg ZIMMERMANN, David Franklin PLANT, Robert Vlastimil BOUCHAL, Troy Nikolas TYLER, Victoria SUPONITSKY, Michael Harcourt DELAGE, MIchel Georges LABERGE, Malcom Newton WILLIAMS
  • Patent number: 10546660
    Abstract: Examples of system for generating vortex cavity are disclosed. The system comprises a vessel into which a fluid is injected through one or more inlet ports and a fluid circulating system configured to circulate the fluid through the vessel such that the fluid is removed from the vessel through an outlet port and is returned back into the vessel through the one and more inlet ports. A first spinner is mounted at one wall of the vessel while a second spinner is mounted at the opposite wall of the vessel such that the second spinner is at some distance away from the first spinner and it faces the first spinner. When the fluid circulating system starts circulating the fluid within the vessel a vortex cavity is formed that extends between the first and the second spinners so that one end of the vortex cavity sits on the first spinner while the opposite end of the vortex cavity sits on the second spinner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: General Fusion Inc.
    Inventors: Michel Georges Laberge, David Franklin Plant, Victoria Suponitsky, Eunice Kuatsjah
  • Publication number: 20180286522
    Abstract: Examples of system for generating vortex cavity are disclosed. The system comprises a vessel into which a fluid is injected through one or more inlet ports and a fluid circulating system configured to circulate the fluid through the vessel such that the fluid is removed from the vessel through an outlet port and is returned back into the vessel through the one and more inlet ports. A first spinner is mounted at one wall of the vessel while a second spinner is mounted at the opposite wall of the vessel such that the second spinner is at some distance away from the first spinner and it faces the first spinner. When the fluid circulating system starts circulating the fluid within the vessel a vortex cavity is formed that extends between the first and the second spinners so that one end of the vortex cavity sits on the first spinner while the opposite end of the vortex cavity sits on the second spinner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2016
    Publication date: October 4, 2018
    Inventors: Michel Georges Laberge, David Franklin Plant, Victoria Suponitsky, Eunice Kuatsjah
  • Publication number: 20170333806
    Abstract: Examples of a device for gettering and surface conditioning are disclosed. The device comprises an elongated tube with a closed first end, a second end and a body extending between the first end and the second end. The body defines an inner cavity of the tube in which a heating device is inserted. The tube is inserted into a vessel so that the first end is positioned within the vessel. A solid metal is mounted closely to the tube in a region surrounding the heating device and a meshed screen is mounted over the solid metal and secured to the tube. When the heating device is on, the heat transfers through the tube's wall into the solid metal melting and vaporizing it, so that the metal vapors travel and coat onto vessel's surfaces. The device can also be used in producing metal alloys such as lead lithium alloys.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Applicant: General Fusion Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Douglas Mossman, David Franklin Plant