Patents by Inventor Kurt Olsen

Kurt Olsen 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: 11724829
    Abstract: A hybrid propulsion system includes a housing, at least two electrodes, a solid-grain fuel material, a combustion chamber, an oxidizer port, and a nozzle. The housing has a first end and a second end and defines a cavity. The electrodes extend into the cavity. The fuel material is free of an oxidizer and is positioned in the cavity. The fuel material has a combustion surface and is exposed to the electrodes. The combustion chamber is defined between the combustion surface and the second end. The oxidizer port provides a flow of oxidizer to the combustion chamber. The nozzle is positioned at the second end. Combustion of the fuel material in the combustion chamber may be dominated by radiative heat transfer. Combustion of the fuel material in the combustion chamber may generate thrust of no more than 5 N at an oxidizer flow rate of no more than 5 g/s.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Inventors: Tyson Smith, Zachary Lewis, Kurt Olsen, Marc Anthony Bulcher, Stephen Whitmore
  • Publication number: 20220348360
    Abstract: A hybrid propulsion system includes a housing, at least two electrodes, a solid-grain fuel material, a combustion chamber, an oxidizer port, and a nozzle. The housing has a first end and a second end and defines a cavity. The electrodes extend into the cavity. The fuel material is free of an oxidizer and is positioned in the cavity. The fuel material has a combustion surface and is exposed to the electrodes. The combustion chamber is defined between the combustion surface and the second end. The oxidizer port provides a flow of oxidizer to the combustion chamber. The nozzle is positioned at the second end. Combustion of the fuel material in the combustion chamber may be dominated by radiative heat transfer. Combustion of the fuel material in the combustion chamber may generate thrust of no more than 5 N at an oxidizer flow rate of no more than 5 g/s.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Applicant: Utah State University Space Dynamics Laboratory
    Inventors: Tyson Smith, Zachary Lewis, Kurt Olsen, Marc Anthony Bulcher, Stephen Whitmore
  • Publication number: 20220315252
    Abstract: A hybrid propulsion system includes a housing, at least two electrodes, a solid-grain fuel material, a combustion chamber, an oxidizer port, and a nozzle. The housing has a first end and a second end and defines a cavity. The electrodes extend into the cavity. The fuel material is free of an oxidizer and is positioned in the cavity. The fuel material has a combustion surface and is exposed to the electrodes. The combustion chamber is defined between the combustion surface and the second end. The oxidizer port provides a flow of oxidizer to the combustion chamber. The nozzle is positioned at the second end. Combustion of the fuel material in the combustion chamber may be dominated by radiative heat transfer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2021
    Publication date: October 6, 2022
    Applicant: Utah State University Space Dynamics Laboratory
    Inventors: Tyson Smith, Zachary Lewis, Kurt Olsen, Marc Anthony Bulcher, Stephen Whitmore
  • Patent number: 11407531
    Abstract: A hybrid propulsion system includes a housing, at least two electrodes, a solid-grain fuel material, a combustion chamber, an oxidizer port, and a nozzle. The housing has a first end and a second end and defines a cavity. The electrodes extend into the cavity. The fuel material is free of an oxidizer and is positioned in the cavity. The fuel material has a combustion surface and is exposed to the electrodes. The combustion chamber is defined between the combustion surface and the second end. The oxidizer port provides a flow of oxidizer to the combustion chamber. The nozzle is positioned at the second end. Combustion of the fuel material in the combustion chamber may be dominated by radiative heat transfer. Combustion of the fuel material in the combustion chamber may generate thrust of no more than 5 N at an oxidizer flow rate of no more than 5 g/s.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Utah State University Space Dynamics Laboratory
    Inventors: Tyson Smith, Zachary Lewis, Kurt Olsen, Marc Anthony Bulcher, Stephen Whitmore
  • Publication number: 20210101702
    Abstract: A hybrid propulsion system includes a housing, at least two electrodes, a solid-grain fuel material, a combustion chamber, an oxidizer port, and a nozzle. The housing has a first end and a second end and defines a cavity. The electrodes extend into the cavity. The fuel material is free of an oxidizer and is positioned in the cavity. The fuel material has a combustion surface and is exposed to the electrodes. The combustion chamber is defined between the combustion surface and the second end. The oxidizer port provides a flow of oxidizer to the combustion chamber. The nozzle is positioned at the second end. Combustion of the fuel material in the combustion chamber may be dominated by radiative heat transfer. Combustion of the fuel material in the combustion chamber may generate thrust of no more than 5 N at an oxidizer flow rate of no more than 5 g/s.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Applicant: Utah State University Space Dynamics Laboratory
    Inventors: Tyson Smith, Zachary Lewis, Kurt Olsen, Anthony Marc Bulcher, Stephen Whitmore
  • Publication number: 20070029434
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for winding a towpreg having a spool winding machine having a rod-shaped body for mounting a core of a spool, wherein the core is shuttled on the rod-shaped body to allow the towpreg to maintain a straight path substantially normal to an axis of the rod-shaped body are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2006
    Publication date: February 8, 2007
    Applicant: Zoltek Companies Inc.
    Inventors: David Rasmussen, Ronald Roser, Joseph Barlow, Kirk Samowitz, Kurt Olsen
  • Patent number: D410586
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1999
    Inventor: Kurt-Are Olsen