Patents by Inventor Franz A. Pertl

Franz A. Pertl 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: 10865760
    Abstract: A quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator for producing corona discharge plasma from is presented. The quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator has a folded cavity made of opposing concentric cavity members that are nested together to form a continuous cavity ending in a aperture. A center conductor with a tip is positioned in the cavity. The folded cavity advantageously permits the coaxial cavity resonator to resonate at a lower operating frequency than an unfolded quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator of the same length. Embodiments of the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator use narrower apertures to reduce radiative losses, and include center conductors that are reactive load elements, such as helical coils. When a radio frequency (RF) oscillation is produced in the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator, corona discharge plasma is formed at the tip of the center conductor. The corona discharge plasma can be used to ignite combustible materials in combustion chambers of combustion engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: West Virginia University
    Inventors: James E. Smith, Franz A. Pertl
  • Patent number: 10156134
    Abstract: A method for detecting a subsurface anomaly at a near-surface depth, comprises positioning an electromagnetic sensor configured to measure a component of a planetary electromagnetic field such that the electromagnetic sensor is suspended just above a ground-air barrier and does not contact a ground surface; selecting an electromagnetic frequency by calculating a function of properties of the ground that include relative permittivity, relative permeability, and resistivity; moving the electromagnetic sensor over the surface of the ground; repeatedly measuring intensity of the component of the planetary electromagnetic field at the frequency to obtain a set of measurements; and comparing at least a first measurement in the set of measurements to at least a second measurement in the set of measurements to identify a change in the intensity of the component of the planetary electromagnetic field that is indicative of a presence of a subsurface anomaly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Terra Response LLC
    Inventors: James E. Smith, Franz A. Pertl, Roy S. Nutter, Andrew D. Lowery
  • Patent number: 10001105
    Abstract: A quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator for producing corona discharge plasma from is presented. The quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator has a folded cavity made of opposing concentric cavity members that are nested together to form a continuous cavity ending in a aperture. A center conductor with a tip is positioned in the cavity. The folded cavity advantageously permits the coaxial cavity resonator to resonate at a lower operating frequency than an unfolded quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator of the same length. Embodiments of the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator use narrower apertures to reduce radiative losses, and include center conductors that are reactive load elements, such as helical coils. When a radio frequency (RF) oscillation is produced in the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator, corona discharge plasma is formed at the tip of the center conductor. The corona discharge plasma can be used to ignite combustible materials in combustion chambers of combustion engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: West Virginia University
    Inventors: James E. Smith, Franz A. Pertl
  • Publication number: 20170356285
    Abstract: A method for detecting a subsurface anomaly at a near-surface depth, comprises positioning an electromagnetic sensor configured to measure a component of a planetary electromagnetic field such that the electromagnetic sensor is suspended just above a ground-air barrier and does not contact a ground surface; selecting an electromagnetic frequency by calculating a function of properties of the ground that include relative permittivity, relative permeability, and resistivity; moving the electromagnetic sensor over the surface of the ground; repeatedly measuring intensity of the component of the planetary electromagnetic field at the frequency to obtain a set of measurements; and comparing at least a first measurement in the set of measurements to at least a second measurement in the set of measurements to identify a change in the intensity of the component of the planetary electromagnetic field that is indicative of a presence of a subsurface anomaly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: James E. Smith, Franz A. Pertl, Roy S. Nutter, Andrew D. Lowery
  • Patent number: 9719343
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for passively detecting the presence of near-surface human-scale underground anomalies using earth field measurements. A sensor is used to measure at least one electric or magnetic component of the Earth's electromagnetic field at a frequency of 5 kHz or greater in proximity to the Earth's surface for a given area. The measured intensities are used to identify variations indicative of the presence of a near-surface human-scale underground anomaly. Measuring the intensity of at least one component of the electromagnetic field at a plurality of frequencies of 5 kHz or greater can be used to determine the depth and characteristic of a near-surface human-scale underground anomaly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Terra Response, LLC
    Inventors: James E. Smith, Franz A. Pertl, Roy S. Nutter, Jr., Andrew D. Lowery
  • Publication number: 20170175697
    Abstract: A quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator for producing corona discharge plasma from is presented. The quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator has a folded cavity made of opposing concentric cavity members that are nested together to form a continuous cavity ending in a aperture. A center conductor with a tip is positioned in the cavity. The folded cavity advantageously permits the coaxial cavity resonator to resonate at a lower operating frequency than an unfolded quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator of the same length. Embodiments of the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator use narrower apertures to reduce radiative losses, and include center conductors that are reactive load elements, such as helical coils. When a radio frequency (RF) oscillation is produced in the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator, corona discharge plasma is formed at the tip of the center conductor. The corona discharge plasma can be used to ignite combustible materials in combustion chambers of combustion engines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: James E. Smith, Franz A. Pertl
  • Publication number: 20170175698
    Abstract: A quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator for producing corona discharge plasma from is presented. The quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator has a folded cavity made of opposing concentric cavity members that are nested together to form a continuous cavity ending in a aperture. A center conductor with a tip is positioned in the cavity. The folded cavity advantageously permits the coaxial cavity resonator to resonate at a lower operating frequency than an unfolded quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator of the same length. Embodiments of the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator use narrower apertures to reduce radiative losses, and include center conductors that are reactive load elements, such as helical coils. When a radio frequency (RF) oscillation is produced in the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator, corona discharge plasma is formed at the tip of the center conductor. The corona discharge plasma can be used to ignite combustible materials in combustion chambers of combustion engines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: James E. Smith, Franz A. Pertl
  • Patent number: 9638157
    Abstract: A quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator for producing corona discharge plasma from is presented. The quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator has a folded cavity made of opposing concentric cavity members that are nested together to form a continuous cavity ending in a aperture. A center conductor with a tip is positioned in the cavity. The folded cavity advantageously permits the coaxial cavity resonator to resonate at a lower operating frequency than an unfolded quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator of the same length. Embodiments of the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator use narrower apertures to reduce radiative losses, and include center conductors that are reactive load elements, such as helical coils. When a radio frequency (RF) oscillation is produced in the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator, corona discharge plasma is formed at the tip of the center conductor. The corona discharge plasma can be used to ignite combustible materials in combustion chambers of combustion engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: James E. Smith, Franz A. Pertl
  • Patent number: 9624898
    Abstract: A quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator for producing corona discharge plasma from is presented. The quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator has a folded cavity made of opposing concentric cavity members that are nested together to form a continuous cavity ending in a aperture. A center conductor with a tip is positioned in the cavity. The folded cavity advantageously permits the coaxial cavity resonator to resonate at a lower operating frequency than an unfolded quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator of the same length. Embodiments of the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator use narrower apertures to reduce radiative losses, and include center conductors that are reactive load elements, such as helical coils. When a radio frequency (RF) oscillation is produced in the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator, corona discharge plasma is formed at the tip of the center conductor. The corona discharge plasma can be used to ignite combustible materials in combustion chambers of combustion engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: James E. Smith, Franz A. Pertl
  • Publication number: 20170085060
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for igniting combustible materials in a combustion chamber of a combustion engine using corona discharge plasma from a quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator. A tapered quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator is adapted to mate with the combustion chamber. The quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator is coupled with an energy shaping means, or waveform generator, that develops the appropriate waveform for triggering radio frequency oscillations in the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator. A loop coupling is angularly positioned within the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator to match impedances between the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator and the energy shaping means, or waveform generator. Radio frequency oscillations produce a standing wave in the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator and a corona discharge plasma develops near the center conductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: James E. Smith, Franz A. Pertl
  • Patent number: 9551315
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for igniting combustible materials in a combustion chamber of a combustion engine using corona discharge plasma from a quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator. A tapered quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator is adapted to mate with the combustion chamber. The quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator is coupled with an energy shaping means, or waveform generator, that develops the appropriate waveform for triggering radio frequency oscillations in the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator. A loop coupling is angularly positioned within the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator to match impedances between the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator and the energy shaping means, or waveform generator. Radio frequency oscillations produce a standing wave in the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator and a corona discharge plasma develops near the center conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: James E. Smith, Franz A. Pertl
  • Publication number: 20150285611
    Abstract: An object tracking system includes a sensor grid having a plurality of sensor clusters configured to sense the presence of a magnetic field of an object. Each sensor cluster includes three or more single-axis magnetic sensors. The sensors in a cluster may be arranged with their axes parallel to one another. The sensor grid may account for ambient magnetic noise by measuring the magnetic field in a zone a distance away from the object to update the ambient magnetic field noise measurement. The sensor grid or a portion thereof may include a plurality of sensors printed on a common sheet. The sensor grid may comprise one or more sheets overlapped or interconnected. The system may track an object and determine up to three degrees of positioning and three degrees of orientation by using a geometric solution of the intercepts of magnetic field strengths obtained from information collected by the magnetic sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: Andrew D. Lowery, Franz A. Pertl, James E. Smith
  • Patent number: 8887683
    Abstract: A quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator for producing corona discharge plasma from is presented. The quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator has a folded cavity made of opposing concentric cavity members that are nested together to form a continuous cavity ending in a aperture. A center conductor with a tip is positioned in the cavity. The folded cavity advantageously permits the coaxial cavity resonator to resonate at a lower operating frequency than an unfolded quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator of the same length. Embodiments of the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator use narrower apertures to reduce radiative losses, and include center conductors that are reactive load elements, such as helical coils. When a radio frequency (RF) oscillation is produced in the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator, corona discharge plasma is formed at the tip of the center conductor. The corona discharge plasma can be used to ignite combustible materials in combustion chambers of combustion engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Plasma Igniter LLC
    Inventors: James E. Smith, Franz A. Pertl
  • Publication number: 20140327357
    Abstract: A quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator for producing corona discharge plasma from is presented. The quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator has a folded cavity made of opposing concentric cavity members that are nested together to form a continuous cavity ending in a aperture. A center conductor with a tip is positioned in the cavity. The folded cavity advantageously permits the coaxial cavity resonator to resonate at a lower operating frequency than an unfolded quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator of the same length. Embodiments of the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator use narrower apertures to reduce radiative losses, and include center conductors that are reactive load elements, such as helical coils. When a radio frequency (RF) oscillation is produced in the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator, corona discharge plasma is formed at the tip of the center conductor. The corona discharge plasma can be used to ignite combustible materials in combustion chambers of combustion engines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: West Virginia University
    Inventors: James E. Smith, Franz A. Pertl
  • Publication number: 20140283780
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for igniting combustible materials in a combustion chamber of a combustion engine using corona discharge plasma from a quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator. A tapered quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator is adapted to mate with the combustion chamber. The quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator is coupled with an energy shaping means, or waveform generator, that develops the appropriate waveform for triggering radio frequency oscillations in the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator. A loop coupling is angularly positioned within the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator to match impedances between the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator and the energy shaping means, or waveform generator. Radio frequency oscillations produce a standing wave in the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator and a corona discharge plasma develops near the center conductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: James E. Smith, Franz A. Pertl
  • Publication number: 20140283781
    Abstract: A quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator for producing corona discharge plasma from is presented. The quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator has a folded cavity made of opposing concentric cavity members that are nested together to form a continuous cavity ending in a aperture. A center conductor with a tip is positioned in the cavity. The folded cavity advantageously permits the coaxial cavity resonator to resonate at a lower operating frequency than an unfolded quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator of the same length. Embodiments of the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator use narrower apertures to reduce radiative losses, and include center conductors that are reactive load elements, such as helical coils. When a radio frequency (RF) oscillation is produced in the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator, corona discharge plasma is formed at the tip of the center conductor. The corona discharge plasma can be used to ignite combustible materials in combustion chambers of combustion engines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: West Virginia University
    Inventors: James E. Smith, Franz A. Pertl
  • Publication number: 20140261243
    Abstract: A turbine thermal generator and controller includes first and second members having opposing surfaces together defining boundaries of a fluid chamber, a means for rotating about an axis said first member relative to said second member thereby generating heat in a fluid contained in said fluid chamber, and means for transferring heat from said fluid to a load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Carl Bickel, Justin R. Chambers, Franz A. Pertl, Brian Rampolla, Tom A. Risley, James E. Smith
  • Patent number: 8783220
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for igniting combustible materials in a combustion chamber of a combustion engine using corona discharge plasma from a quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator. A tapered quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator is adapted to mate with the combustion chamber. The quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator is coupled with an energy shaping means, or waveform generator, that develops the appropriate waveform for triggering radio frequency oscillations in the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator. A loop coupling is angularly positioned within the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator to match impedances between the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator and the energy shaping means, or waveform generator. Radio frequency oscillations produce a standing wave in the quarter wave coaxial cavity resonator and a corona discharge plasma develops near the center conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: West Virginia University
    Inventors: James E. Smith, Franz A. Pertl
  • Publication number: 20120045329
    Abstract: A method of controlling a vertical axis wind turbines using circulation control is presented. The comprising monitoring environmental conditions and the vertical axis wind turbine to determine a current system state, and selectively blowing air through a blowing slot of a blade of the vertical axis wind turn based on the current system state to achieve a desired system state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: James E. Smith, Franz A. Pertl, Gerald M. Angle, II, Christina N. Yarborough, Andrew J. Nawrocki, Jay P. Wilhelm, Kenneth A. Williams
  • Publication number: 20120014792
    Abstract: A circulation controlled vertical axis wind turbine is presented. The circulation controlled vertical axis wind turbine comprise one or more airfoils in communication with the turbine via a rotatable support shaft and an airfoil support structure. The one or more airfoils have a blowing slot disposed near the trailing edge, and a controller and control means modulates a flow of air between the blowing slot and an internal cavity of the airfoil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: James E. Smith, Franz A. Pertl, Gerald M. Angle, II, Christina N. Yarborough, Andrew J. Nawrocki, Jay P. Wilhelm, Kenneth A. Williams