Patents by Inventor Frank Hegeler

Frank Hegeler 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: 9757684
    Abstract: An improved process and for removing NOx from exhaust gases produced by combustion-based energy sources. Catalyst-free exhaust gas is directed into one or more ducts. The gas is cooled and then passes through the duct, wherein the gas flow rate and the electron beam pulse rate are configured to cause each successive volume of gas that flows past the window to be subjected to only a single electron beam pulse in the reaction chamber. A single short, intense electron beam is fired into the exhaust through a window in the reaction chamber as the exhaust flows past the window, with some of the electrons being reflected back into the gas by a reflective plate situated opposite the window. The deposited electron energy causes NOx from the exhaust to be converted into N2 and O2 which are output into the atmosphere with the thus-scrubbed exhaust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Matthew F. Wolford, Matthew C. Myers, John D. Sethian, Frank Hegeler
  • Publication number: 20170087509
    Abstract: An improved process and for removing NOx from exhaust gases produced by combustion-based energy sources. Catalyst-free exhaust gas is directed into one or more ducts. The gas is cooled and then passes through the duct, wherein the gas flow rate and the electron beam pulse rate are configured to cause each successive volume of gas that flows past the window to be subjected to only a single electron beam pulse in the reaction chamber. A single short, intense electron beam is fired into the exhaust through a window in the reaction chamber as the exhaust flows past the window, with some of the electrons being reflected back into the gas by a reflective plate situated opposite the window. The deposited electron energy causes NOx from the exhaust to be converted into N2 and O2 which are output into the atmosphere with the thus-scrubbed exhaust.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Applicant: The Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Matthew F. Wolford, Matthew C. Myers, John D. Sethian, Frank Hegeler
  • Publication number: 20160108504
    Abstract: A method for desensitizing an aluminum alloy is presented. A desired location on the surface of an aluminum alloy sample is exposed to a controlled pulsed electron beam. The pulsed electron beam heats a shallow layer of the metal alloy having a desired depth at the desired location on the surface of the sample to a temperature between a solvus temperature and an annealing temperature of the metal alloy to controllably reduce a degree of sensitization of the metal alloy sample at the desired location, an extent of a reduction in the degree of sensitization being controllable by varying at least one of a voltage, a current density, a pulse duration, a pulse frequency and a number of pulses of the electron beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventors: John D. Sethian, Matthew C. Myers, Mathew Wolford, Frank Hegeler, Ronald L. Holtz, Derek Horton, Alexis C. Lewis, Kathryn J. Wahl
  • Patent number: 9315886
    Abstract: A method for desensitizing an aluminum alloy is presented. A desired location on the surface of an aluminum alloy sample is exposed to a controlled pulsed electron beam. The pulsed electron beam heats a shallow layer of the metal alloy having a desired depth at the desired location on the surface of the sample to a temperature between a solvus temperature and an annealing temperature of the metal alloy to controllably reduce a degree of sensitization of the metal alloy sample at the desired location, an extent of a reduction in the degree of sensitization being controllable by varying at least one of a voltage, a current density, a pulse duration, a pulse frequency and a number of pulses of the electron beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: John D. Sethian, Matthew C. Myers, Mathew Wolford, Frank Hegeler, Ronald L. Holtz, Derek Horton, Alexis C. Lewis, Kathryn J. Wahl
  • Patent number: 9089815
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for removing NOx from exhaust gases produced by combustion-based energy sources. An array of high voltage pulsed electron beams are repetitively generated and transported through a thin foil into the exhaust gas containing NOx. The electron beam deposits its energy into the gas and produces reactive radicals N2+, N+, e, N2 from the NOx in the gas. These radicals recombine through chemical reactions to produce benign by-products nitrogen N2 and oxygen O2 which are output into the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: John D. Sethian, Matthew Myers, Mathew Wolford, Frank Hegeler
  • Publication number: 20130153404
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for removing NOx from exhaust gases produced by combustion-based energy sources. An array of high voltage pulsed electron beams are repetitively generated and transported through a thin foil into the exhaust gas containing NOx. The electron beam deposits its energy into the gas and produces reactive radicals N2+, N+, e, N2 from the NOx in the gas. These radicals recombine through chemical reactions to produce benign by-products nitrogen N2 and oxygen O2 which are output into the atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Inventors: John D. Sethian, Matthew Myers, Mathew Wolford, Frank Hegeler
  • Patent number: 7429761
    Abstract: A high power diode includes a cathode for emitting a primary electron discharge, an anode, and a porous dielectric layer, e.g. a honeycomb ceramic, positioned between the cathode and the anode for receiving the primary electron discharge and emitting a secondary electron discharge. The diode can operate at voltages 50 kV and higher while generating an electron beam with a uniform current density in the range from 1 A/cm2 to >10 kA/cm2 throughout the area of the cathode. It is capable of repetitively pulsed operation at a few Hz with pulse duration from a few nanoseconds to more than a microseconds, while the total number of pulses can be >107 pulses. The diode generates minimal out-gassing or debris, i.e. with minimal ablation, providing a greater diode lifetime, and can operate in a high vacuum environment of 10?4 Torr. The high power diode is useful in many applications requiring a high current electron beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Moshe Friedman, Matthew Myers, Frank Hegeler, John Sethian
  • Publication number: 20050199982
    Abstract: A high power diode includes a cathode for emitting a primary electron discharge, an anode, and a porous dielectric layer, e.g. a honeycomb ceramic, positioned between the cathode and the anode for receiving the primary electron discharge and emitting a secondary electron discharge. The diode can operate at voltages 50 kV and higher while generating an electron beam with a uniform current density in the range from 1 A/cm2 to >10 kA/cm2 throughout the area of the cathode. It is capable of repetitively pulsed operation at a few Hz with pulse duration from a few nanoseconds to more than a microseconds, while the total number of pulses can be >107 pulses. The diode generates minimal out-gassing or debris, i.e. with minimal ablation, providing a greater diode lifetime, and can operate in a high vacuum environment of 10?4 Torr. The high power diode is useful in many applications requiring a high current electron beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Publication date: September 15, 2005
    Inventors: Moshe Friedman, Matthew Myers, Frank Hegeler, John Sethian