Patents by Inventor Kenneth Blanchette

Kenneth Blanchette 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).

  • Ocean thermal buoyancy and propulsion system
    Patent number: 8132525
    Abstract: A water navigable vessel or glider can transport cargo across oceans and other bodies of water without the use of fossil or nuclear fuels. The vessel includes a housing, a cargo or payload area within the housing, one or more control fins attached to the housing, a ballast within the housing, an expandable and contractible container configured to receive a clathrate and maintain a minimum amount of pressure on the clathrate within the housing in proximity to the ballast, and an intake valve coupled to the ballast. The clathrate changes state, thereby changing the buoyancy of the glider, and causing the glider to move through the body of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Herbek, Robert Dietzen, Braden Powell, Sean Day, Kenneth Blanchette, Matthew Gries, Matthew B. Ascari, John W. Rapp, Robert J. Howard
  • OCEAN THERMAL BUOYANCY AND PROPULSION SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20120015567
    Abstract: A water navigable vessel or glider can transport cargo across oceans and other bodies of water without the use of fossil or nuclear fuels. The vessel includes a housing, a cargo or payload area within the housing, one or more control fins attached to the housing, a ballast within the housing, an expandable and contractible container configured to receive a clathrate and maintain a minimum amount of pressure on the clathrate within the housing in proximity to the ballast, and an intake valve coupled to the ballast. The clathrate changes state, thereby changing the buoyancy of the glider, and causing the glider to move through the body of water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Herbek, Robert Dietzen, Braden Powell, Sean Day, Kenneth Blanchette, Matthew Gries, Matthew B. Ascari, John W. Rapp, Robert J. Howard
  • BUOYANCY SYSTEM FOR AN UNDERWATER DEVICE AND ASSOCIATED METHODS FOR OPERATING THE SAME
    Publication number: 20100294192
    Abstract: A buoyancy system includes a chamber having a volume associated therewith, and bladders within the volume of the chamber. Each bladder contains a clathrate mixture in a liquid state. The chamber includes an opening to allow surrounding water to circulate within the volume and contact the bladders. As the chamber is submerged in the surrounding water, the bladders expand based on the clathrate mixture changing from the liquid state to a solid state. This changes buoyancy by allowing less water to circulate within the volume of the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Inventors: MATTHEW HERBEK, Robert Dietzen, Braden Powell, Kenneth Blanchette, Sean Day, Matthew Gries, John Rapp, Matthew Ascari, Maria Fini