Patents by Inventor Nathan Inkley

Nathan Inkley 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: 10774789
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to various devices, systems and methods of providing a restartable, hybrid-rocket system that uses Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) and compressed air containing oxygen levels up to 40% as a propellant. Alternatively, embodiments of the present invention includes restartable hybrid rocket system that uses a heterogeneous matrix of ABS and a solid oxidizing agent in addition to compressed air as a propellant. When the ABS is exposed to an electrical potential field, the electrical field's effect on the ABS produces localized arcing between multiple layers of the ABS resulting in joule heating and pyrolysis of the ABS. The pyrolysis produces spontaneous combustion of the ABS once the oxidizer flow provides a local oxygen partial pressure greater than two atmospheres at the surface of the ABS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Utah State University
    Inventors: Stephen Whitmore, Anthony Marc Bulcher, Zachary Lewis, Nathan Inkley
  • Publication number: 20200025151
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to various devices, systems and methods of providing a restartable, hybrid-rocket system that uses Acylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) and compressed air containing oxygen levels up to 40% as a propellant. Alternatively, embodiments of the present invention includes restartable hybrid rocket system that uses a heterogeneous matrix of ABS and a solid oxidizing agent in addition to compressed air as a propellant. When the ABS is exposed to an electrical potential field, the electrical field's effect on the ABS produces localized arcing between multiple layers of the ABS resulting in joule heating and pyrolysis of the ABS. The pyrolysis produces spontaneous combustion of the ABS once the oxidizer flow provides a local oxygen partial pressure greater than two atmospheres at the surface of the ABS.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Applicant: Utah State University
    Inventors: Stephen Whitmore, Anthony Marc Bulcher, Zachary Lewis, Nathan Inkley
  • Patent number: 10527004
    Abstract: Devices, methods, and systems for providing a restartable ignition system for a hybrid rocket system. In one embodiment, an ignition device includes a housing and at least two electrodes. The housing includes a first side and a second side and defines a bore with an axis extending therethrough between the first and second sides, the bore defining an internal surface of the housing. The at least two electrodes extend through the housing to the internal surface. The at least two electrodes are configured to be spaced apart so as to provide an electrical potential field along the internal surface between the at least two electrodes. Such housing is formed with and includes multiple flat layers such that the multiple flat layers provide ridges along the internal surface. With this arrangement, the internal surface with the ridges are configured to concentrate an electrical charge upon being subjected to the electrical potential field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Utah State University
    Inventors: Stephen A. Whitmore, Nathan Inkley, Daniel P. Merkley
  • Publication number: 20150322892
    Abstract: Devices, methods, and systems for providing a restartable ignition system for a hybrid rocket system. In one embodiment, an ignition device includes a housing and at least two electrodes. The housing includes a first side and a second side and defines a bore with an axis extending therethrough between the first and second sides, the bore defining an internal surface of the housing. The at least two electrodes extend through the housing to the internal surface. The at least two electrodes are configured to be spaced apart so as to provide an electrical potential field along the internal surface between the at least two electrodes. Such housing is formed with and includes multiple flat layers such that the multiple flat layers provide ridges along the internal surface. With this arrangement, the internal surface with the ridges are configured to concentrate an electrical charge upon being subjected to the electrical potential field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Applicant: Utah State University
    Inventors: Stephen A. Whitmore, Nathan Inkley, Daniel P. Merkley