Patents by Inventor James C Knox

James C Knox 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: 9802149
    Abstract: The present invention is a sorbent-based atmosphere revitalization (SBAR) system using treatment beds each having a bed housing, primary and secondary moisture adsorbent layers, and a primary carbon dioxide adsorbent layer. Each bed includes a redirecting plenum between moisture adsorbent layers, inlet and outlet ports connected to inlet and outlet valves, respectively, and bypass ports connected to the redirecting plenums. The SBAR system also includes at least one bypass valve connected to the bypass ports. An inlet channel connects inlet valves to an atmosphere source. An outlet channel connects the bypass valve and outlet valves to the atmosphere source. A vacuum channel connects inlet valves, the bypass valve and outlet valves to a vacuum source. In use, one bed treats air from the atmosphere source while another bed undergoes regeneration. During regeneration, the inlet, bypass, and outlet valves sequentially open to the vacuum source, removing accumulated moisture and carbon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of NASA
    Inventors: James C Knox, Lee A. Miller
  • Patent number: 4336708
    Abstract: In the preferred and illustrated embodiment of a leak locating system, a pipeline leak locator is disclosed. The locator includes an electronic circuit having temperature sensors attachable to the pipeline and a time and temperature monitor. The system utilizes time and temperature differences to determine the direction and along with the known volume loss can determine the distance of a pipeline leak relative to the locator. The pipeline leak locator further includes a cooling coil for reducing the pipe wall temperature to a predetermined value in the area of the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1982
    Inventors: Terry W. Hobgood, James C. Knox, Jr.