Patents by Inventor Gerrit T. Sutherland

Gerrit T. Sutherland 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).

  • Melted metal dispersal warhead
    Patent number: 8245640
    Abstract: Molten droplets of a metal fuel, such as aluminum, are dispersed into air or water for a reaction releasing energy for military or other purposes. In one warhead embodiment, a cylinder of solid metal is disposed within a ceramic heat insulator; heaters of thermite-like material are embedded in the metal; and an explosive dispersing charge is disposed around or at one end of the cylinder. On activation, the heaters are ignited to melt the metal, and the charge then detonated to disperse droplets of the molten metal. In a related embodiment, the metal and heaters are within a containment having an atomizing nozzle at one end and, oppositely of the metal from the nozzle, a piston and gas generator. When the metal is melted, the gas generator is activated to expel molten metal droplets from the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Gerrit T. Sutherland, Phillip J. Miller, Harold W. Sandusky
  • Melted metal dispersal warhead
    Patent number: 7584702
    Abstract: Molten droplets of a metal fuel, such as aluminum, are dispersed into air or water for a reaction releasing energy for military or other purposes. In one warhead embodiment, a cylinder of solid metal is disposed within a ceramic heat insulator; heaters of thermite-like material are embedded in the metal; and an explosive dispersing charge is disposed around or at one end of the cylinder. On activation, the heaters are ignited to melt the metal, and the charge then detonated to disperse droplets of the molten metal. In a related embodiment, the metal and heaters are within a containment having an atomizing nozzle at one end and, oppositely of the metal from the nozzle, a piston and gas generator. When the metal is melted, the gas generator is activated to expel molten metal droplets from the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Gerrit T. Sutherland, Phillip J. Miller, Harold W. Sandusky
  • Melted metal dispersal warhead
    Patent number: 7059250
    Abstract: Molten droplets of a metal fuel, such as aluminum, are dispersed into air or water for a reaction releasing energy for military or other purposes. In one warhead embodiment, a cylinder of solid metal is disposed within a ceramic heat insulator; heaters of thermite-like material are embedded in the metal; and an explosive dispersing charge is disposed around or at one end of the cylinder. On activation, the heaters are ignited to melt the metal, and the charge then detonated to disperse droplets of the molten metal. In a related embodiment, the metal and heaters are within a containment having an atomizing nozzle at one end and, oppositely of the metal from the nozzle, a piston and gas generator. When the metal is melted, the gas generator is activated to expel molten metal droplets from the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Gerrit T. Sutherland, Phillip J. Miller, Harold W. Sandusky