Patents by Inventor Nicholas T. Castellucci

Nicholas T. Castellucci 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: 10798883
    Abstract: A substantially rectangular and open bottom shield configured to be fitted around an in-ground plant at ground level as enabled by an elongated slit and central aperture. A peripheral wall perpendicular to an opaque top panel extends downward around at least 75% of the perimeter of the top panel. The top panel is inclined toward the central aperture through which water and fertilizer can flow toward the plant root system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Inventors: Nicholas T Castellucci, John Edward Aiken
  • Publication number: 20170223906
    Abstract: A substantially rectangular and open bottom shield configured to be fitted around an in-ground plant at ground level as enabled by an elongated slit and central aperture. A peripheral wall perpendicular to an opaque top panel extends downward around at least 75% of the perimeter of the top panel. The top panel is inclined toward the central aperture through which water and fertilizer can flow toward the plant root system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Nicholas T Castellucci, John Edward Aiken
  • Patent number: 6121169
    Abstract: The present invention is embodied in ceramic matrix composites with porous interfacial coatings and the methods and processes for fabricating such coatings integral with the ceramic matrix composites. Each ceramic matrix composite of the present invention includes a fibrous substrate or fabric material with a porous interfacial coating. The coating, prior to processing, is comprised of a coating solution made of a carbon precursor and a ceramic precursor resin dissolved directly within a solvent or solvents. Fabrication is achieved by first desizing the fibrous substrate, second immersing the desized fibrous substrate in the mixed coating solution, third evaporating the solvent and curing the precursor and resin via a low temperature cure, and fourth pyrolyzing the coating via a high temperature pyrolysis, preferably in an inert atmosphere. Next, the coated fibrous substrate is combined with a ceramic matrix composite (CMC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Harry Wellington Carpenter, David Eric Daws, Nicholas T. Castellucci
  • Patent number: 5989467
    Abstract: The present invention is embodied in a ceramic foam made by mixing a liquid pre-ceramic resin and a liquid phenolic resin, allowing the resultant mixture to chemically foam, curing the mixture for a time and at a temperature sufficiently to convert the mixture to a polymeric foam, and then heating the resultant polymeric foam for a time and at a temperature sufficient to break-down polymers of the polymeric foam and convert the polymeric foam to a ceramic foam. The ceramic foam of the present invention contains residual decomposed components of the liquid phenolic resin and/or liquid pre-ceramic resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: David Eric Daws, Nicholas T. Castellucci, Harry Wellington Carpenter, Mary Wagner Colby
  • Patent number: 5840935
    Abstract: Polymeric compositions having inherent electroconductive properties and unsaturated electron-donor and electron-receptor polymerizable monomers for producing such compositions in the form of blends of homopolymers of such monomers or as copolymers of such monomers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventor: Nicholas T. Castellucci
  • Patent number: 5834619
    Abstract: Polymeric compositions having inherent electroconductive properties and unsaturated electron-donor and electron-receptor polymerizable monomers for producing such compositions in the form of blends of homopolymers of such monomers or as copolymers of such monomers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventor: Nicholas T. Castellucci
  • Patent number: 5792388
    Abstract: The present process involves forming the following mixtures of ingredients as parts A, B, C, D and E:Part A:1. diethyl toluene diamine (Reactant)2. 1-methoxy-2-propanol acetate (Solvent/Reactant)Part B:1. 1-methoxy-2-propanol acetate (Solvent)2. silyl polythioether polymer/methylene bis 4-cyclohexyl isocyanate (Reactant)Part C:1. benzyl phthalate (or other liquid plasticizer)Part D:1. N-beta (aminoethyl)-.gamma.-aminopropyltrimethoxy silane (liquid Reactant)Part E:1. Ag-coated hollow filler spheres.These mixtures are combined in the following steps:Step I--Combine Part C with Part D and mix thoroughly (no Reaction);Step II--Add Part B and mix well (Reaction);Step III--Add Part E, and mix well;Step IV--Add Part A and mix well (Reaction);Chemical reactions take place, when the above chemical compounds are added in the sequence indicated, to form a novel self-curing elastomeric composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Roger M. Heitz, Leon Burks, Jr., Nicholas T. Castellucci
  • Patent number: 5695154
    Abstract: A gap filler device applicable to a gap formed between side walls of adjacent panels comprises an elongated horizontal portion extending across the gap and a vertical portion extending into the gap. The vertical portion includes a pair of opposed, spaced apart, planar bearing surface members biased into frictional engagement with the side walls of the gap to resist removal of the gap filler device. The vertical portion has descending legs extending from opposed sides of the horizontal portion to a bight. Ascending legs extend from the bight to terminal ends. Slots are formed in the vertical portion and extend upwardly from the bight at spaced locations along the length of the legs. In one embodiment, a plurality of outwardly projecting spike members are formed on the bearing surface members for engagement with the side walls of the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas T. Castellucci, Thomas J. Ambrose
  • Patent number: 5654014
    Abstract: A system is provided for repairing a planar sheet member which has a damaged region defined by a boundary. A generally planar repair assembly having an outer periphery initially spaced from the boundary of the damaged region is inserted into the damaged region so as to be coplanar with the sheet member. Thereupon, the repair assembly is enlarged until its outer periphery is generally adjacent to the boundary of the damaged region to be repaired. At the same time, a frangible wall in a container of the repair assembly positioned between a first compartment liquid filler material and a second compartment of liquid hardener chemically reactive with the filler material is broken such that the filler material and hardener intermix and react to form a resultant liquid repair material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas T. Castellucci, David G. Tureaud, Owen V. Manning
  • Patent number: 5643512
    Abstract: The present invention is embodied in a method of producing a ceramic foam. The steps for producing the ceramic foam include first mixing a liquid pre-ceramic resin with a liquid phenolic resin, second allowing the resultant mixture to chemically foam, third curing the mixture for a time and at a temperature sufficiently to convert the mixture to a polymeric foam, and then heating the resultant polymeric foam for a time and at a temperature sufficiently to completely break-down polymers of the polymeric foam and convert the polymeric foam to a ceramic foam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: David Eric Daws, Nicholas T. Castellucci, Harry Wellington Carpenter, Mary Wagner Colby
  • Patent number: 5621062
    Abstract: Solvent-free, fluid polythioether coating or caulking compositions having excellent room-temperature self-curing properties and excellent leveling properties are produced by mixing reactive liquid precursor components comprising a hydroxyl- or silyl-terminated amino polythioether of formula A and a hydroxyl- or silyl-terminated epoxy polythioether of formula B. The mixture is applied to a surface to the protected, preferably a hydrolyzable metal surface such as aluminum which is reactive with the hydroxyl or silyl terminal groups, and cured at room temperature for less than two hours to produce a self-leveling protective coating or gap-fill which is strongly-bonded to the surface and is flexible and stable over a wide temperature range between about -60.degree. F. and +360.degree. F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas T. Castellucci, Roger M. Heitz
  • Patent number: 5575035
    Abstract: The present invention is a hand held tool for removing coatings from a substrate. The hand held tool includes a housing having a front section with an outlet, a mid section with an inlet, and a rear section, a heat source disposed within the front section of the housing for emitting heat through the outlet, and a vacuum source disposed within the mid section of the housing for providing suction through the inlet. The hand held coating remover further includes a power source disposed within the rear section for supplying power to the heat source and the vacuum source, a control panel having a heat controller for adjusting and controlling the heat emitted from the heat source through the outlet and a vacuum controller for adjusting and controlling the suction provided by the vacuum through the inlet, and a blade located adjacent to the inlet and resiliently coupled to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Carl A. Reis, Nicholas T. Castellucci, Richard A. Osterman
  • Patent number: 5545703
    Abstract: Polymeric compositions having inherent electroconductive properties and unsaturated electron-donor and electron-receptor polymerizable monomers for producing such compositions in the form of blends of homopolymers of such monomers or as copolymers of such monomers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventor: Nicholas T. Castellucci
  • Patent number: 5525262
    Abstract: A gap-fill or caulking composition, comprising one or more fluid polythioether polymers having reactive terminal groups, blended with hollow spheres coated with an inert electroconductive metal or metal nitride, which provide excellent chemical bonding with graphite composite surfaces, aluminum surfaces, including composite aluminum surfaces, and with epoxy, polyurethane, and acrylic primed surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas T. Castellucci, Roger M. Heitz
  • Patent number: 5518565
    Abstract: A system is provided for repairing a planar sheet member which has a damaged region defined by a boundary. A generally planar repair assembly having an outer periphery initially spaced from the boundary of the damaged region is inserted into the damaged region so as to be coplanar with the sheet member. Thereupon, the repair assembly is enlarged until its outer periphery is generally adjacent to the boundary of the damaged region to be repaired. At the same time, a frangible wall in a container of the repair assembly positioned between a first compartment of liquid filler material and a second compartment of liquid hardener chemically reactive with the filler material is broken such that the filler material and hardener intermix and react to form a resultant liquid repair material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas T. Castellucci, David G. Tureaud, Owen V. Manning
  • Patent number: 5429772
    Abstract: A gap-fill or caulking composition, comprising one or more fluid polythioether polymers having reactive terminal groups, blended with hollow spheres coated with an inert electroconductive metal or metal nitride, which provide excellent chemical bonding with graphite composite surfaces, aluminum surfaces, including composite aluminum surfaces, and with epoxy, polyurethane, and acrylic primed surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1995
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas T. Castellucci, Roger M. Heitz
  • Patent number: 5336748
    Abstract: Silane polymer coating compositions which have excellent bonding properties for metallic surfaces and which make such surfaces highly resistant to corrosion. The compositions are formed by anhydrously reacting an epoxy trialkoxy silane with a primary amino trialkoxy silane in a stoichiometric molar ratio which provides one epoxy group for reaction with each primary amino hydrogen site to form the silane polymer coating composition. The composition is applied to the metal surface, and is hydrolyzed and dehydrated in situ to crosslink thereon and bond to the surface to form the corrosion-resistant coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Northrop Corporation
    Inventor: Nicholas T. Castellucci
  • Patent number: 5270428
    Abstract: Silane polymer coating compositions which have excellent bonding properties for metallic surfaces and which make such surfaces highly resistant to corrosion. The compositions are formed by anhydrously reacting an epoxy trialkoxy silane with a primary amino trialkoxy silane in a stoichiometric molar ratio which provides one epoxy group for reacton with each primary amino hydrogen site to form the silane polymer coating composition. The composition is applied to the metal surface, and is hydrolyzed and dehydrated in situ to crosslink thereon and bond to the surface to form the corrosion-resistant coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignee: Northrop Corporation
    Inventor: Nicholas T. Castellucci
  • Patent number: 5206285
    Abstract: Process for producing novel water-base coating compositions and for applying such compositions to metal surfaces to render them corrosion-resistant, comprising reacting an epoxy trialkoxy silane with a primary aminotrialkoxy silane in a molar ratio providing one epoxy group for reaction with each primary amino hydrogen to form a hydrolyzable siloxane precursor coating composition which is solubilized, such as by the presence of a volatile organic weak acid and hydrolyzing said precursor compound in situ on a metallic surface to form a silanol precursor compound which is bonded to a metallic surface and is simultaneously cross-linked with itself and/or with external crosslinking agents under dehydration conditions to form a corrosion-resistant conversion coating or bonding coating having exceptional durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Assignee: Northrop Corporation
    Inventor: Nicholas T. Castellucci
  • Patent number: 5065960
    Abstract: Improved channel members positionable over and in the gaps between aircraft panels. Each channel member includes a gap filler including a horizontal portion extending across the gap and a vertical portion extending downwardly therefrom into a gap. The vertical portion has parts in frictional contact with the side walls of the gap to resist removal of the gap filler from the gap. The gap filler is formed of an electrically conductive material selected to preclude galvanic corrosion when in contact with the panels. The vertical portion is formed of a pair of downwardly extending legs integrally formed with the horizontal portion. A central extent of each vertical portion includes an outwardly directed bight in frictional contact with a side wall of an associate panel. The channel member further includes an upper horizontal component in contact with adjacent plates at their exterior surfaces. The upper horizontal component is fabricated of the same material as the panels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1991
    Assignee: Northrop Corporation
    Inventor: Nicholas T. Castellucci