Patents by Inventor James R. Thurston

James R. Thurston 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: 4483250
    Abstract: A manually rotatable cylindrical valve member forms a physical barrier in a "safe" position between a firing pin-primer charge and pyrotechnic flare ignition material. The valving member has a passage through it that, in the "armed" position, is in alignment with the firing pin-primer charge and the flare ignition material. An axial force on the valving member along with a rotational force is required for adjustment between the safe and armed positions and vice versa. Gas venting of the primer, upon accidental or inadvertent firing of the primer, prevents flare ignition when the valving member is in the safe position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1984
    Assignee: Thiokol Corporation
    Inventors: James R. Thurston, George A. Berkley
  • Patent number: 3946672
    Abstract: The forward end of a rocket motor is attached, by a threaded adapter, to a cylindrical housing that is in turn attached to an elongated tube, the opposite end of which is fitted with a releasable nose cone. The elongated tube is filled with a series of bombs. Each bomb is a conical, shaped charge equipped at one end with a parachute protected by a split, conical, plastic shield loosely held together by a band and a pronged clip--all of which is seated in the conical recess of an adjacent bomb. A conical partition separates the tube from the housing; and the main parachute is attached in the housing. An acceleration actuated fuse in the adapter ignites a time delay charge, which ignites an explosive charge that when exploded forces a piston against the housing, so that it separates the housing and tube from the adapter and rocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1974
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1976
    Assignee: Thiokol Corporation
    Inventors: Gary V. Adams, Roy T. Minert, James R. Thurston