Patents by Inventor Frank C. Kulhanek

Frank C. Kulhanek 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).

  • Altitude release mechanism
    Patent number: 4056000
    Abstract: An altitude release mechanism for releasing a radiosonde or other measuring instrument from a balloon carrying it up into the atmosphere includes a bottle partially filled with water, a tube sealed into the bottle having one end submerged in the water in the bottle and the free end extending above the top of the bottle and a strip of water-disintegrable paper held within the free end of the tube linking the balloon to the remainder of the package. As the balloon ascends, the lowered atmospheric air pressure causes the air in the bottle to expand, forcing the water in the bottle up the tubing to wet and disintegrate the paper, releasing the package from the balloon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1977
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Energy Research and Development Administration
    Inventor: Frank C. Kulhanek