Patents by Inventor Dennis L. Orphal

Dennis L. Orphal 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).

  • Multi-layered trap ballistic armor
    Patent number: 7077048
    Abstract: A momentum trap ballistic armor comprises an accelerating layer, a plug layer adjacent to the accelerating layer, and an energy absorbing layer. The plug layer includes an opening and at least one plug maintained within the opening. When a projectile impacts the accelerating layer, the plug is accelerated to the velocity of the projectile before the projectile perforates the plug, forming a projectile-plug combination. The energy absorbing layer is used to capture the projectile-plug combination. The accelerating layer is typically ceramic, the plug layer is typically metal, and the energy absorbing layer is typically ballistic cloth material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignees: Southwest Research Institude, Alliant Techsystems Inc.
    Inventors: Charles E. Anderson, Jr., Dennis L. Orphal, Gordon R. Johnson
  • Momentum trap ballistic armor system
    Patent number: 6718861
    Abstract: A momentum trap ballistic armor system comprises an accelerating layer and a plug layer adjacent to the a accelerating layer. The plug layer includes an opening and at least one plug maintained within the opening. When a projectile impacts the accelerating layer, the plug is accelerated to the velocity of the projectile before the projectile perforates the plug, forming a projectile-plug combination. Typically, the accelerating layer and plug layer are joined with an energy absorbing layer, which is used to capture a projectile-plug combination. The accelerating layer is typically ceramic, the plug layer is typically metal, and the energy absorbing layer is typically ballistic cloth material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Charles E. Anderson, Jr., Dennis L. Orphal, Gordon R. Johnson
  • Reactive stiffening armor system
    Patent number: 6474213
    Abstract: A reactive armor structure having an outer layer and a reactive element adjacent to and integral with the outer layer is provided. The reactive element provides an amount of support to the outer layer effective to restrain movement of the outer layer and to delay fracture of the outer layer when the outer layer is impacted by a projectile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: James D. Walker, Dennis L. Orphal