Patents by Inventor Gregory D. Knowlton

Gregory D. Knowlton 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: 9182199
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and a system for defeating a target containing a flammable or explosive fill and an incendiary penetrating projectile for use in the method and the system. The incendiary penetrating projectile contains a non-detonating incendiary composition that is ignited prior to penetrating a target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: NAMMO TALLEY, INC.
    Inventors: Mark A. Skidmore, Andrew R. Davis, Thomas V. Palen, Christian W Salafia, Thomas M. Deppert, Gregory D. Knowlton
  • Publication number: 20150247708
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and a system for defeating a target containing a flammable or explosive fill and an incendiary penetrating projectile for use in the method and the system. The incendiary penetrating projectile contains a non-detonating incendiary composition that is ignited prior to penetrating a target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Applicant: NAMMO TALLEY, INC.
    Inventors: Mark A. SKIDMORE, Andrew R. DAVIS, Thomas V. PALEN, Christian M. SALAFIA, Thomas M. DEPPERT, Gregory D. KNOWLTON
  • Patent number: 8485099
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and a system for defeating a target containing a flammable or explosive fill and an incendiary penetrating projectile for use in the method and the system. The incendiary penetrating projectile contains a non-detonating incendiary composition that is ignited prior to penetrating a target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Nammo Talley, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Skidmore, Andrew R. Davis, Thomas V. Palen, Christian W. Salafia, Thomas M. Deppert, Gregory D. Knowlton
  • Publication number: 20120186479
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and a system for defeating a target containing a flammable or explosive fill and an incendiary penetrating projectile for use in the method and the system. The incendiary penetrating projectile contains a non-detonating incendiary composition that is ignited prior to penetrating a target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: NAMMO TALLEY, INC.
    Inventors: Mark A. Skidmore, Andrew R. Davis, Thomas V. Palen, Christian M. Salafia, Thomas M. Deppert, Gregory D. Knowlton
  • Patent number: 6860951
    Abstract: A low-solids gas generating composition, which is a mixture of a fuel selected for the group consisting of cellulose, cellulose acetate, hexamine, and mixtures thereof, and an oxidizer selected from the group consisting of ceric ammonium nitrate, lithium nitrate, lithium perchlorate, sodium perchlorate, phase stabilized ammonium nitrate, a combination of ammonium nitrate with potassium nitrate, potassium perchlorate, or mixtures thereof, such that the combination is a solid solution, a mixture of ammonium perchlorate and at least one alkali metal salt, and mixtures thereof. The combination of ammonium nitrate with other salts in solid solution is intended to phase stabilize the ammonium nitrate. The oxidizer-fuel mixture is within about 4 percent of stoichiometric balance. Useful alkali metal salts include lithium carbonate, lithium nitrate, sodium nitrate, potassium nitrate, and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Talley Defense Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory D. Knowlton, Christopher P. Ludwig, Daniel V. Haun
  • Patent number: 6749702
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a low temperature autoignition composition for safely initiating combustion of a main pyrotechnic charge in a gas generator or pyrotechnic device exposed to flame or a high temperature environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Talley Defense Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory D. Knowlton, Christopher P. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 6605233
    Abstract: A low-solids gas generating composition and a method of producing a gas. The gas is produced by combusting a mixture of a fuel selected from the group consisting of guanidine nitrate, nitroguanidine, cellulose, cellulose acetate, hexamine, 5 amino-tetrazole, 5 nitro-uracil, guanidine salt of 5 nitro-uracil, and mixtures thereof, an oxidizer selected from the group consisting of ceric ammonium nitrate, strontium nitrate, basic copper nitrate, a mixture of ammonium perchlorate and at least one alkali metal salt, and mixtures thereof, and a cupric oxalate hemi-hydrate coolant. The oxidizer-fuel mixture is within about 4 percent of stoichiometric balance, and the low-solids gas generating composition produces no more than about 0.082 cubic centimeters of solids per gram of gas generating composition on combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Talley Defense Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory D. Knowlton, Christopher P. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 6589375
    Abstract: A low-solids gas generating composition and a method of generating a gas with low solids by preparing and combusting the low-solids gas generating composition. The compositions of the invention include a mixture of a basic copper nitrate oxidizer and a fuel selected for the group consisting of 5-nitro-uracil, guanidine 5-nitro-uracil salt, ammonium 5-nitro-uracil salt, aminoguanidine 5-nitro-uracil salt, hydrazine 5-nitro-uracil salt, triamino 5-nitro-uracil salt, guanidine 5-nitro-barbituric acid salt, ammonium 5-nitro-barbituric acid salt, hydrazine 5-nitro-barbituric acid salt, aminoguanidine 5-nitro-barbituric acid salt, triaminoguanidine 5-nitro-barbituric acid salt, and mixtures thereof, wherein the oxidizer-fuel mixture is within about 4 percent of stoichiometric balance, and produces no more than about 0.06 cubic centimeters of solids per gram of gas generating composition on combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Talley Defense Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory D. Knowlton, Christopher P. Ludwig, Thomas M. Deppert, Dan McFadden, James Dupont, Christian Salafia
  • Publication number: 20030094225
    Abstract: A low-solids gas generating composition and a method of generating a gas with low solids by preparing and combusting the low-solids gas generating composition. The compositions of the invention include a mixture of a basic copper nitrate oxidizer and a fuel selected for the group consisting of 5-nitro-uracil, guanidine 5-nitro-uracil salt, ammonium 5-nitro-uracil salt, aminoguanidine 5-nitro-uracil salt, hydrazine 5-nitro-uracil salt, triamino 5-nitro-uracil salt, guanidine 5-nitro-barbituric acid salt, ammonium 5-nitro-barbituric acid salt, hydrazine 5-nitro-barbituric acid salt, aminoguanidine 5-nitro-barbituric acid salt, triaminoguanidine 5-nitro-barbituric acid salt, and mixtures thereof, wherein the oxidizer-fuel mixture is within about 4 percent of stoichiometric balance, and produces no more than about 0.06 cubic centimeters of solids per gram of gas generating composition on combustion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Inventors: Gregory D. Knowlton, Christopher P. Ludwig, Thomas M. Deppert, Dan McFadden, James Dupont, Christian Salafia
  • Publication number: 20030089883
    Abstract: A low-solids gas generating composition and a method of producing a gas. The gas is produced by combusting a mixture of a fuel selected from the group consisting of guanidine nitrate, nitroguanidine, cellulose, cellulose acetate, hexamine, 5 amino-tetrazole, 5 nitro-uracil, guanidine salt of 5 nitro-uracil, and mixtures thereof, an oxidizer selected from the group consisting of ceric ammonium nitrate, strontium nitrate, basic copper nitrate, a mixture of ammonium perchlorate and at least one alkali metal salt, and mixtures thereof, and a cupric oxalate hemi-hydrate coolant. The oxidizer-fuel mixture is within about 4 percent of stoichiometric balance, and the low-solids gas generating composition produces no more than about 0.082 cubic centimeters of solids per gram of gas generating composition on combustion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Inventors: Gregory D. Knowlton, Christopher P. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 6539869
    Abstract: A non-detonating heat transfer initiator. A representative heat transfer initiator is in the form of a heat transfer control medium, having a heat input portion and a heat output portion, and a non-detonating autoignition material, having an autoignition temperature, in thermal contact with the heat output portion. When heat is applied to the heat input portion, a transfer of heat through the heat transfer control medium to the heat output portion results, heating the heat output portion, such that, upon application of a sufficient amount of heat to the heat input portion, the heat output portion is heated to the autoignition temperature of the non-detonating autoignition material, igniting the non-detonating autoignition material ignites, thus producing a non-detonating thermal output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Talley Defense Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory D. Knowlton, Christian Salafia, Bruce B. Anderson, Theodore B. Gortemoller
  • Publication number: 20020035945
    Abstract: A non-detonating heat transfer initiator. A representative heat transfer initiator is in the form of a heat transfer control medium, having a heat input portion and a heat output portion, and a non-detonating autoignition material, having an autoignition temperature, in thermal contact with the heat output portion. When heat is applied to the heat input portion, a transfer of heat through the heat transfer control medium to the heat output portion results, heating the heat output portion, such that, upon application of a sufficient amount of heat to the heat input portion, the heat output portion is heated to the autoignition temperature of the non-detonating autoignition material, igniting the non-detonating autoignition material ignites, thus producing a non-detonating thermal output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2001
    Publication date: March 28, 2002
    Inventors: Gregory D. Knowlton, Christian Salafia, Bruce B. Anderson, Theodore B. Gortemoller
  • Patent number: 6298784
    Abstract: A heat transfer delay for providing a delay time in propellant, pyrotechnic, and explosive devices, and a method of delaying production of a non-detonating thermal output with the heat transfer delay. A representative delay is in the form of a housing having a first heat source cavity, a second heat source cavity, and a heat transfer cavity connecting the first and second heat source cavities. A pyrotechnic heat source is placed in thermal contact with the first heat source cavity, and a non-detonating autoignition material is placed in thermal contact with the second heat source cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Talley Defense Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory D. Knowlton, Bruce B. Anderson, Theodore B. Gortemoller
  • Publication number: 20010020504
    Abstract: A low-solids gas generating composition, which is a mixture of a fuel selected for the group consisting of cellulose, cellulose acetate, hexamine, and mixtures thereof, and an oxidizer selected from the group consisting of ceric ammonium nitrate, lithium nitrate, lithium perchlorate, sodium perchlorate, phase stabilized ammonium nitrate, a combination of ammonium nitrate with potassium nitrate, potassium perchlorate, or mixtures thereof, such that the combination is a solid solution, a mixture of ammonium perchlorate and at least one alkali metal salt, and mixtures thereof. The combination of ammonium nitrate with other salts in solid solution is intended to phase stabilize the ammonium nitrate. The oxidizer-fuel mixture is within about 4 percent of stoichiometric balance. Useful alkali metal salts include lithium carbonate, lithium nitrate, sodium nitrate, potassium nitrate, and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Publication date: September 13, 2001
    Inventors: Gregory D. Knowlton, Christopher P. Ludwig, Daniel V. Haun
  • Patent number: 6235132
    Abstract: A pyrotechnic material comprising at least one fuel and an oxidizer of ceric ammonium nitrate or a mixture of ceric ammonium nitrate and one or more other oxidizers, and, optionally, sub-micron (i.e., having an average particle size of less than about 1 &mgr;m) fumed silica for use as a low-solids gas generating composition. When the oxidizer-fuel mixture is within about 4 percent of stoichiometric balance, the pyrotechnic material provides a low solids gas generant less than about 30 percent solids on combustion, and may be formed as pressed pellets, grains, or granules for use in automotive passive restraint systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Talley Defense Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory D. Knowlton, Christopher P. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 6221187
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a low temperature autoignition composition for safely initiating combustion of a main pyrotechnic charge in a gas generator or pyrotechnic device exposed to flame or a high temperature environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Talley Defense Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory D. Knowlton, Christopher P. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 6101947
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a low temperature autoignition composition for safely initiating combustion of a main pyrotechnic charge in a gas generator or pyrotechnic device exposed to flame or a high temperature environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Talley Defense Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory D. Knowlton, Christopher P. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 5959242
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an autoignition composition for safely initiating combustion of a main pyrotechnic charge in a gas generator or pyrotechnic device exposed to flame or a high temperature environment. The autoignition compositions of the invention include a mixture of an oxidizer composition and a powdered metal, wherein the oxidizer composition includes at least one of an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal nitrate, a complex salt nitrate, such as Ce(NH.sub.4).sub.2 (NO.sub.3).sub.6 or ZrO(NO.sub.3).sub.2, a dried, hydrated nitrate, such as Ca(NO.sub.3).sub.2.4H.sub.2 O or Cu(NO.sub.3).sub.2.2.5 H.sub.2 O, silver nitrate, an alkali or alkaline earth chlorate, an alkali or alkaline earth metal perchlorate, ammonium perchlorate, a nitrite of sodium, potassium, or silver, or a solid organic nitrate, nitrite, or amine, such as guanidine nitrate, nitroguanidine and 5-aminotetrazole, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Talley Defense Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory D. Knowlton, Christopher P. Ludwig
  • Patent number: 5780768
    Abstract: A low-solids gas generating composition, comprising a mixture of a fuel selected for the group consisting of guanidine nitrate, nitroguanidine, cellulose, cellulose acetate, hexamine, and mixtures thereof, and an oxidizer selected from the group consisting of ceric ammonium nitrate, lithium nitrate, lithium perchlorate, sodium perchlorate, phase stabilized ammonium nitrate, a combination of ammonium nitrate with potassium nitrate, potassium perchlorate, or mixtures thereof, such that the combination is a solid solution, a mixture of ammonium perchlorate and at least one alkali metal salt, and mixtures thereof, where the fuel is not nitroguanidine when the oxidizer includes ammonium nitrate. The combination of ammonium nitrate with other salts in solid solution is intended to phase stabilize the ammonium nitrate. The oxidizer-fuel mixture is within about 4 percent of stoichiometric balance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1998
    Assignee: Talley Defense Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory D. Knowlton, Christopher P. Ludwig, Daniel Haun
  • Patent number: 5739460
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an autoignition composition for safely initiating combustion of a main pyrotechnic charge in a gas generator or pyrotechnic device exposed to flame or a high temperature environment. The autoignition compositions of the invention include a mixture of an oxidizer composition and a powdered metal, wherein the oxidizer composition includes at least one of an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal nitrate, a complex salt nitrate, such as Ce(NH.sub.4).sub.2 (NO.sub.3).sub.6 or ZrO(NO.sub.3).sub.2, a dried, hydrated nitrate, such as Ca(NO.sub.3).sub.2 .multidot.4H.sub.2 O or Cu(NO.sub.3).sub.2 .multidot.2.5H.sub.2 O, silver nitrate, an alkali or alkaline earth chlorate, an alkali or alkaline earth metal perchlorate, ammonium perchlorate, a nitrite of sodium, potassium, or silver, or a solid organic nitrate, nitrite, or amine, such as guanidine nitrate, nitroguanidine and 5-aminotetrazole, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Talley Defense Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory D. Knowlton, Christopher P. Ludwig