Patents by Inventor James W. Klett
James W. Klett 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).
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Publication number: 20160057814Abstract: A magneto-energy apparatus includes an electromagnetic field source for generating a time-varying electromagnetic field. A graphite foam conductor is disposed within the electromagnetic field. The graphite foam when exposed to the time-varying electromagnetic field conducts an induced electric current, the electric current heating the graphite foam. An energy conversion device utilizes heat energy from the heated graphite foam to perform a heat energy consuming function. A device for heating a fluid and a method of converting energy are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2014Publication date: February 25, 2016Inventors: James W. KLETT, Orlando RIOS, Roger KISNER
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Patent number: 9080818Abstract: Heat exchangers are described that employ fins made of a heat conducting foam material to enhance heat transfer. The foam fins can be used in any type of heat exchanger including, but not limited to, a plate-fin heat exchanger, a plate-frame heat exchanger or a shell-and-tube heat exchanger. The heat exchangers employing foam fins described herein are highly efficient, inexpensive to build, and corrosion resistant. The described heat exchangers can be used in a variety of applications, including but not limited to, low thermal driving force applications, power generation applications, and non-power generation applications such as refrigeration and cryogenics. The fins can be made from any thermally conductive foam material including, but not limited to, graphite foam or metal foam.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2012Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Scott M. Maurer, Nicholas J. Nagurny, Michael R. Eller, James W. Klett
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Patent number: 9017598Abstract: A metal-bonded graphite foam composite includes a ductile metal continuous phase and a dispersed phase that includes graphite foam particles.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2012Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLCInventors: Paul A. Menchhofer, James W. Klett
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Patent number: 8875612Abstract: Disclosed are several examples of apparatuses for suppressing the blast and flash produced as a projectile is expelled by gases from a firearm. In some examples, gases are diverted away from the central chamber to an expansion chamber by baffles. The gases are absorbed by the expansion chamber and desorbed slowly, thus decreasing pressure and increasing residence time of the gases. In other examples, the gases impinge against a plurality of rods before expanding through passages between the rods to decrease the pressure and increase the residence time of the gases. These and other exemplary suppressors are made from an intermetallic material composition for enhanced strength and oxidation resistance at high operational temperatures.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2013Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLCInventors: James W. Klett, Thomas R. Muth, Dan L. Cler
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Publication number: 20140308594Abstract: A cathode for a metal air battery includes a cathode structure having pores. The cathode structure has a metal side and an air side. The porosity decreases from the air side to the metal side. A metal air battery and a method of making a cathode for a metal air battery are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2013Publication date: October 16, 2014Inventors: Nancy J. DUDNEY, James W. KLETT, Jagjit NANDA, Chaitanya Kumar NARULA, Sreekanth PANNALA
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Patent number: 8844422Abstract: Disclosed are several examples of apparatuses for suppressing the blast and flash produced as a projectile is expelled by gases from a firearm. In some examples, gases are diverted away from the central chamber to an expansion chamber by baffles. The gases are absorbed by the expansion chamber and desorbed slowly, thus decreasing pressure and increasing residence time of the gases. In other examples, the gases impinge against a plurality of rods before expanding through passages between the rods to decrease the pressure and increase the residence time of the gases.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2012Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLCInventor: James W. Klett
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Publication number: 20130195708Abstract: A metal-bonded graphite foam composite includes a ductile metal continuous phase and a dispersed phase that includes graphite foam particles.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 21, 2012Publication date: August 1, 2013Applicant: UT-Battelle, LLCInventors: James W. Klett, Paul A. Menchhofer, James A. Hunter
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Publication number: 20120199331Abstract: Shell-and-tube heat exchangers that utilize one or more foam heat transfer units engaged with the tubes to enhance the heat transfer between first and second fluids. The foam of the heat transfer units can be any thermally conductive foam material that enhances heat transfer, for example graphite foam. These shell-and-tube heat exchangers are highly efficient, inexpensive to build, and corrosion resistant. The described heat exchangers can be used in a variety of applications, including but not limited to, low thermal driving force applications, power generation applications, and non-power generation applications such as refrigeration and cryogenics. The foam heat transfer units can be made from any thermally conductive foam material including, but not limited to, graphite foam or metal foam. In an embodiment, the heat exchanger utilizes tubes that are twisted around a central foam heat transfer unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2012Publication date: August 9, 2012Applicant: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATIONInventors: Scott M. MAURER, Nicholas J. NAGURNY, Michael R. ELLER, James W. KLETT
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Publication number: 20120199330Abstract: Shell-and-tube heat exchangers that utilize one or more foam heat transfer units engaged with the tubes to enhance the heat transfer between first and second fluids. The foam of the heat transfer units can be any thermally conductive foam material that enhances heat transfer. In an embodiment, a liquid distribution unit is employed that sprays a fluid to maximize the energy transfer through the use of large surface/volume ratio of the sprayed fluid. The spraying can be used in combination with or separately from the foam heat transfer units. Also, the tubes can be helically twisted around the liquid distribution unit so that the sprayed fluid impinges on the tubes. The shell-and-tube heat exchangers described herein are highly efficient, inexpensive to build, and corrosion resistant. The heat exchangers can be configured as an evaporator, a condenser, or for single phase cooling or heating thermal transfer applications.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2012Publication date: August 9, 2012Applicant: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATIONInventors: Scott M. MAURER, James W. KLETT
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Publication number: 20120199334Abstract: Heat exchangers are described that employ fins made of a heat conducting foam material to enhance heat transfer. The foam fins can be used in any type of heat exchanger including, but not limited to, a plate-fin heat exchanger, a plate-frame heat exchanger or a shell-and-tube heat exchanger. The heat exchangers employing foam fins described herein are highly efficient, inexpensive to build, and corrosion resistant. The described heat exchangers can be used in a variety of applications, including but not limited to, low thermal driving force applications, power generation applications, and non-power generation applications such as refrigeration and cryogenics. The fins can be made from any thermally conductive foam material including, but not limited to, graphite foam or metal foam.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 3, 2012Publication date: August 9, 2012Applicant: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATIONInventors: Scott M. MAURER, Nicholas J. NAGURNY, Michael R. ELLER, James W. KLETT
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Publication number: 20120183116Abstract: A composite nuclear fuel pellet comprises a composite body including a UO2 matrix and a plurality of high aspect ratio particies dispersed therein, where the high aspect ratio particies have a thermal conductivity higher than that of the UO2 matrix. A method of making a composite nuclear fuel pellet includes combining UO2 powder with a predetermined amount of high aspect ratio particles to form a combined powder, the high aspect ratio particles having a thermal conductivity higher than that of the UO2 powder; mixing the combined powder in a solvent to disperse the high aspect ratio particles in the UO2 powder; evaporating the solvent to form a dry mixture comprising the high aspect ratio particles dispersed in the UO2 powder; pressing the dry mixture to form a green body; and sintering the green body to form the composite fuel pellet.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2010Publication date: July 19, 2012Inventors: Daniel F. Hollenbach, Larry J. Ott, James W. Klett, Theodore M. Besmann, Beth L. Armstrong
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Patent number: 8133826Abstract: A flexible thermally conductive structure. The structure generally includes a plurality of thermally conductive yarns, at least some of which are at least partially disposed adjacent to an elastomeric material. Typically, at least a portion of the plurality of thermally conductive yarns is configured as a sheet. The yarns may be constructed from graphite, metal, or similar materials. The elastomeric material may be formed from urethane or silicone foam that is at least partially collapsed, or from a similar material. A thermal management garment is provided, the garment incorporating a flexible thermally conductive structure.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2007Date of Patent: March 13, 2012Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLCInventors: James W. Klett, Christopher Stan Cameron
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Patent number: 7670682Abstract: A carbon based foam article is made by heating the surface of a carbon foam block to a temperature above its graphitizing temperature, which is the temperature sufficient to graphitize the carbon foam. In one embodiment, the surface is heated with infrared pulses until heat is transferred from the surface into the core of the foam article such that the graphitizing temperature penetrates into the core to a desired depth below the surface. The graphitizing temperature is maintained for a time sufficient to substantially entirely graphitize the portion of the foam article from the surface to the desired depth below the surface. Thus, the foam article is an integral monolithic material that has a desired conductivity gradient with a relatively high thermal conductivity in the portion of the core that was graphitized and a relatively low thermal conductivity in the remaining portion of the foam article.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2007Date of Patent: March 2, 2010Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLCInventors: James W. Klett, Christopher Stan Cameron
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Publication number: 20100025009Abstract: A thermal management system for operating near a temperature T. The system includes a sheet-like spacer having a plurality of passageways. A degassed working fluid is disposed as a liquid within the passageways of the spacer. A flexible and substantially impermeable sheet-like envelope forms a sealed compartment enclosing the spacer and the degassed working fluid at an absolute pressure that is approximately equal to the vapor pressure of the working fluid at equilibrium with liquid phase of the working fluid at the temperature T. The spacer, the working fluid and the envelope form a sheet-like thermal management system. In some embodiments the spacer is a flexible spacer and the envelope is a flexible envelope and the sheet-like thermal management system is a flexible sheet-like management system. In some embodiments the envelope is a rigid structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2007Publication date: February 4, 2010Inventors: James W. Klett, Christopher Stan Cameron
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Publication number: 20090087373Abstract: A carbon based foam article is made by heating the surface of a carbon foam block to a temperature above its graphitizing temperature, which is the temperature sufficient to graphitize the carbon foam. In one embodiment, the surface is heated with infrared pulses until heat is transferred from the surface into the core of the foam article such that the graphitizing temperature penetrates into the core to a desired depth below the surface. The graphitizing temperature is maintained for a time sufficient to substantially entirely graphitize the portion of the foam article from the surface to the desired depth below the surface. Thus, the foam article is an integral monolithic material that has a desired conductivity gradient with a relatively high thermal conductivity in the portion of the core that was graphitized and a relatively low thermal conductivity in the remaining portion of the foam article.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2007Publication date: April 2, 2009Inventors: James W. Klett, Christopher Stan Cameron
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Publication number: 20090049871Abstract: A flexible thermally conductive structure. The structure generally includes a plurality of thermally conductive yarns, at least some of which are at least partially disposed adjacent to an elastomeric material. Typically, at least a portion of the plurality of thermally conductive yarns is configured as a sheet. The yarns may be constructed from graphite, metal, or similar materials. The elastomeric material may be formed from urethane or silicone foam that is at least partially collapsed, or from a similar material. A thermal management garment is provided, the garment incorporating a flexible thermally conductive structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2007Publication date: February 26, 2009Inventors: James W. Klett, Christopher Stan Cameron
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Publication number: 20080078034Abstract: A method for dyeing high density polyethelene fiber fabric, which includes applying an aliphatic stain on the fabric.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2006Publication date: April 3, 2008Inventors: Jonathan Kaufman, Rodney Pursell, Lynn B. Klett, James W. Klett
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Patent number: 7258836Abstract: A freeze resistant buoy system includes a tail-tube buoy having a thermally insulated section disposed predominantly above a waterline, and a thermo-siphon disposed predominantly below the waterline.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2003Date of Patent: August 21, 2007Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLCInventors: David E. Hill, Miguel Rodriguez, Jr., Elias Greenbaum, James W. Klett
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Patent number: 7166237Abstract: A process for producing a carbon foam heat sink is disclosed which obviates the need for conventional oxidative stabilization. The process employs mesophase or isotropic pitch and a simplified process using a single mold. The foam has a relatively uniform distribution of pore sizes and a highly aligned graphic structure in the struts. The foam material can be made into a composite which is useful in high temperature sandwich panels for both thermal and structural applications. The foam is encased and filled with a phase change material to provide a very efficient heat sink device.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2002Date of Patent: January 23, 2007Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLCInventors: James W. Klett, Timothy D. Burchell
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Patent number: 7157019Abstract: A process for producing a carbon foam heat sink is disclosed which obviates the need for conventional oxidative stabilization. The process employs mesophase or isotropic pitch and a simplified process using a single mold. The foam has a relatively uniform distribution of pore sizes and a highly aligned graphic structure in the struts. The foam material can be made into a composite which is useful in high temperature sandwich panels for both thermal and structural applications. The foam is encased and filled with a phase change material to provide a very efficient heat sink device.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2002Date of Patent: January 2, 2007Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLCInventors: James W. Klett, Timothy D. Burchell