Patents by Inventor John W. Fronabarger

John W. Fronabarger 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: 11878951
    Abstract: Described are energetic compositions formed of a 5,5?-bistetrazole salt and a perchlorate salt, in which the energetic composition is a co-precipitated product. The 5,5?-bistetrazole salt and the perchlorate salt can be dipotassium 5,5?-bistetrazole and potassium perchlorate. The energetic composition can have a particle size distribution between 1-50 micron and/or a mean volume diameter of less than 30 micron. In a low energy electro-explosive device, an ignition element is at least partially surrounded by an acceptor formed of this energetic composition, and the ignition element can be a bridgewire, a thin film bridge, a semiconductor bridge, or a reactive semiconductor bridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: PACIFIC SCIENTIFIC ENERGETIC MATERIALS COMPANY
    Inventors: John W. Fronabarger, Jason B. Pattison, Robert Holderman
  • Patent number: 10947204
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for preparing 5-nitrotetrazolate using a strongly acidic ionic cation exchange resin that has improve yields over prior art methods. The methods disclosed herein can be used either in a batch process or continuous flow reactor. In one exemplary process, starting material sodium 5-aminotetrazolate in solution is added into a reaction vessel containing a strongly acidic ionic cation exchange resin to facilitate production of 5-nitrotetrazolate. Multiple reactors containing resins may be connected in series to improve 5-nitrotetrazolate yields and purity levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: U.S. Government as Represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: R. Hunter Muir, Andrew G. Pearsall, Jerry S. Salan, Matthew L. Jorgensen, Jon G. Bragg, Neha Mehta, John W. Fronabarger, Jason B. Pattison, Lily F. W. Walsh
  • Publication number: 20200223766
    Abstract: Described are energetic compositions formed of a 5,5?-bistetrazole salt and a perchlorate salt, in which the energetic composition is a co-precipitated product. The 5,5?-bistetrazole salt and the perchlorate salt can be dipotassium 5,5?-bistetrazole and potassium perchlorate. The energetic composition can have a particle size distribution between 1-50 micron and/or a mean volume diameter of less than 30 micron. In a low energy electro-explosive device, an ignition element is at least partially surrounded by an acceptor formed of this energetic composition, and the ignition element can be a bridgewire, a thin film bridge, a semiconductor bridge, or a reactive semiconductor bridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: John W. Fronabarger, Jason B. Pattison, Robert Holderman
  • Patent number: 10464908
    Abstract: Described are methods for purifying a 5-nitrotetrazolate solution with a copper(II) modified cation exchange resin. The method can be performed as a stand-alone system or as a system integrated into a continuous flow reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Pacific Scientific Energetic Materials Company
    Inventors: John W. Fronabarger, Jason B. Pattison, Lily F. W. Walsh
  • Patent number: 9969623
    Abstract: Described are methods of preparing silver azide comprising reacting a silver salt, an azide salt, ammonium hydroxide, and a hydrolysable ester at an elevated temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Pacific Scientific Energetic Materials Company
    Inventors: John W. Fronabarger, Jon G. Bragg, Michael D. Williams
  • Publication number: 20180111909
    Abstract: Described are methods for purifying a 5-nitrotetrazolate solution with a copper(II) modified cation exchange resin. The method can be performed as a stand-alone system or as a system integrated into a continuous flow reactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: John W. Fronabarger, Jason B. Pattison, Lily F.W. Walsh
  • Patent number: 9752857
    Abstract: Lead free microdet electric detonators comprising a bridgewire having milled DBX-1 as a spot charge and unmilled DBX-1 as the intermediate material. Such improved microdet electric detonator is free of lead azide and lead styphnate, but with comparable stability, power and sensitivity to current lead-based M100 electric detonators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Neha Mehta, Gartung Cheng, Kin Yee, Karl Oyler, Akash Shah, John Marin, John W. Fronabarger, Michael D. Williams, Steven H. Marino, Pamela Tran
  • Patent number: 9718791
    Abstract: Described are methods for preparing salts of 5-nitrotetrazolate that include reacting aqueous solutions of 5-aminotetrazole, an acid, and sodium nitrite in a continuous flow system at an ambient temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Pacific Scientific Energetic Materials Company
    Inventors: Jon G. Bragg, Jason B. Pattison, John W. Fronabarger, Michael D. Williams
  • Patent number: 9670168
    Abstract: Described are methods for preparing salts of 5-nitrotetrazolate that include reacting aqueous solutions of 5-aminotetrazole, an acid, and sodium nitrite in a continuous flow system at an elevated temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Pacific Scientific Energetic Materials Company
    Inventors: Jon G. Bragg, John W. Fronabarger, Michael D. Williams
  • Patent number: 9598380
    Abstract: Described are methods for preparing salts of 5-nitrotetrazolate by reacting 5-aminotetrazole, an acid, and sodium nitrite in water in a batch reaction at an elevated temperature. As examples, the acid is nitric acid, sulfuric acid, perchloric acid, or hydrochloric acid, and the elevated temperature is at or above 65° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignees: SRI International, Pacific Scientific Energetic Materials Company, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Bottaro, Mark A. Petrie, Jon G. Bragg, John W. Fronabarger, Michael D. Williams
  • Publication number: 20160207892
    Abstract: Described are methods for preparing salts of 5-nitrotetrazolate that include reacting aqueous solutions of 5-aminotetrazole, an acid, and sodium nitrite in a continuous flow system at an ambient temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Applicant: Pacific Scientific Energetic Materials Company
    Inventors: Jon G. Bragg, Jason B. Pattison, John W. Fronabarger, Michael D. Williams
  • Patent number: 9278984
    Abstract: Described are methods for preparing copper(I) 5-nitrotetrazolate, which include reacting copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate, sodium nitrite, 5-aminotetrazole, and at least one of nitric acid and urea in water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Pacific Scientific Energetic Materials Company
    Inventors: Thomas Matthias Klapötke, Davin Glenn Piercey, John W. Fronabarger, Michael D. Williams
  • Publication number: 20150361057
    Abstract: Described are methods for preparing salts of 5-nitrotetrazolate by reacting 5-aminotetrazole, an acid, and sodium nitrite in water in a batch reaction at an elevated temperature. As examples, the acid is nitric acid, sulfuric acid, perchloric acid, or hydrochloric acid, and the elevated temperature is at or above 65° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Publication date: December 17, 2015
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Bottaro, Mark A. Petrie, Jon G. Bragg, John W. Fronabarger, Michael D. Williams
  • Publication number: 20150321922
    Abstract: Described are methods of preparing silver azide comprising reacting a silver salt, an azide salt, ammonium hydroxide, and a hydrolysable ester at an elevated temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: John W. Fronabarger, Jon G. Bragg, Michael D. Williams
  • Publication number: 20150239910
    Abstract: Described are methods for preparing copper(I) 5-nitrotetrazolate, which include reacting copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate, sodium nitrite, 5-aminotetrazole, and at least one of nitric acid and urea in water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicant: PACIFIC SCIENTIFIC ENERGETIC MATERIALS COMPANY
    Inventors: Thomas Matthias Klapötke, Davin Glenn Piercey, John W. Fronabarger, Michael D. Williams
  • Publication number: 20140206885
    Abstract: Described are methods for preparing salts of 5-nitrotetrazolate that include reacting aqueous solutions of 5-aminotetrazole, an acid, and sodium nitrite in a continuous flow system at an elevated temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: Pacific Scientific Energetic Materials Company
    Inventors: John W. Fronabarger, Michael D. Williams
  • Patent number: 8632643
    Abstract: Embodiments of materials suitable for use as a replacement for Tetrazene and methods of preparing such materials are described. In one embodiment, the material comprises MTX-1, as well as simple salts or complexes derived therefrom. The methods of preparing such materials include combining Tetrazene and an acid to form a suspension, where the acid is nitric acid, sulfuric acid, perchloric acid, or hydrochloric acid. A nitrite salt may be added to the suspension, where the nitrite salt is sodium nitrite, lithium nitrite, potassium nitrite, an aqueous solution of sodium nitrite, an aqueous solution of lithium nitrite, or an aqueous solution of potassium nitrite. In some embodiments, the suspension is stirred until the suspension has a white appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Pacific Scientific Energetic Materials Company
    Inventors: John W. Fronabarger, Michael D. Williams
  • Publication number: 20130317232
    Abstract: Embodiments of materials suitable for use as a replacement for Tetrazene and methods of preparing such materials are described. In one embodiment, the material comprises MTX-1, as well as simple salts or complexes derived therefrom. The methods of preparing such materials include combining Tetrazene and an acid to form a suspension, where the acid is nitric acid, sulfuric acid, perchloric acid, or hydrochloric acid. A nitrite salt may be added to the suspension, where the nitrite salt is sodium nitrite, lithium nitrite, potassium nitrite, an aqueous solution of sodium nitrite, an aqueous solution of lithium nitrite, or an aqueous solution of potassium nitrite. In some embodiments, the suspension is stirred until the suspension has a white appearance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: PACIFIC SCIENTIFIC ENERGETIC MATERIALS COMPANY
    Inventors: John W. Fronabarger, Michael D. Williams
  • Patent number: 8523989
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present subject matter provide a compound and material that may be used as a lead-free primary explosive. An embodiment of the present subject matter provides the compound copper(I) nitrotetrazolate. Certain embodiments of the present subject matter provide methods for preparing lead-free primary explosives. The method includes: providing cuprous salt; providing water; providing 5-nitrotetrazolate salt; combining the cuprous salt, water and 5-nitrotetrazolate salt to form a mixture; and heating the mixture. The method may also include providing cuprous chloride and providing sodium 5-nitrotetrazolate. Certain embodiments of the present subject matter also provide methods for preparing copper(I) nitrotetrazolate. The method includes: providing cuprous salt; providing water; providing 5-nitrotetrazolate salt; combining the cuprous salt, water and 5-nitrotetrazolate salt to form a mixture; and heating the mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Pacific Scientific Energetic Materials Company
    Inventors: John W. Fronabarger, Michael D. Williams, William B. Sanborn
  • Patent number: 8524019
    Abstract: Embodiments of materials suitable for use as a replacement for Tetrazene and methods of preparing such materials are described. In one embodiment, the material comprises MTX-1, as well as simple salts or complexes derived therefrom. The methods of preparing such materials include combining Tetrazene and an acid to form a suspension, where the acid is nitric acid, sulfuric acid, perchloric acid, or hydrochloric acid. A nitrite salt may be added to the suspension, where the nitrite salt is sodium nitrite, lithium nitrite, potassium nitrite, an aqueous solution of sodium nitrite, an aqueous solution of lithium nitrite, or an aqueous solution of potassium nitrite. In some embodiments, the suspension is stirred until the suspension has a white appearance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Pacific Scientific Energetic Materials Company
    Inventors: John W. Fronabarger, Michael D. Williams