Patents by Inventor Robert B. Smalley, Jr.

Robert B. Smalley, Jr. 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: 7210260
    Abstract: A firearm cartridge has a case configured with a relatively straight-walled portion and a shoulder portion for housing a quantity of propellant. The case further includes a neck for retaining a bullet. The straight-walled portion defines a base cavity having an interior base diameter. The interior base diameter is approximately twice or more the neck diameter. The diameter ratios of the base and neck optimize combustion efficiency to reduce heat and acceleration losses. The cartridge body cavity is sized and configured to contain a sufficient quantity of propellant such that igniting the propellant causes formation of a propellant plug having a diameter that is approximately the diameter of the bullet, and wherein the propellant plug shears free from unburned propellant that is disposed adjacent the relatively straight-walled body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Inventors: Robert B. Smalley, Jr., Michael McPherson
  • Patent number: 7086336
    Abstract: A firearm cartridge has a case configured with a relatively straight-walled portion and a shoulder portion for housing a quantity of propellant. The case further includes a neck for retaining a bullet. The straight-walled portion defines a base cavity having an interior base diameter. The interior base diameter is approximately twice or more the neck diameter. The diameter ratios of the base and neck optimize combustion efficiency to reduce heat and acceleration losses. The cartridge body cavity is sized and configured to contain a sufficient quantity of propellant such that igniting the propellant causes formation of a propellant plug having a diameter that is approximately the diameter of the bullet, and wherein the propellant plug shears free from unburned propellant that is disposed adjacent the relatively straight-walled body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Superior Ballistics, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert B. Smalley, Jr., Michael McPherson
  • Patent number: 6832556
    Abstract: Passive coatings accelerate burning at interfaces between rapidly burning propellants and thermally conductive or endothermic inert surfaces. The coatings, useful in firearm cartridges, firearm chambers, and solid rocket motors, reflect infrared energy from the combustion gases to reduce heat loss to the case or chamber and to accelerate ignition of the propellant. The reflective coating has a thermal breakdown temperature higher than the propellant ignition temperature. Firearm cartridges and chambers may have radial shoulder configuration that focuses a shockwave below a bullet base to reduce heat loss to the bullet and support bullet retention in the neck for a longer period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Superior Ballistics, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert B. Smalley, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6523475
    Abstract: A firearm cartridge has a case configured with a straight-walled portion and a radial shoulder for housing a propellant. The case further includes a neck for retaining a bullet. The straight-walled portion defines a base cavity having an interior base diameter. The interior base diameter is approximately twice or more the neck diameter. The diameter ratios of the base and neck optimize combustion efficiency to reduce heat and acceleration losses. The radial shoulder focuses a shockwave below a bullet base to reduce heat loss to the bullet and support bullet retention in the neck for a longer period of time. A thermally insulating coating is utilized to reduce heat loss to the case or chamber and accelerate ignition of the propellant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Superior Ballistics, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert B. Smalley, Jr., Michael L. McPherson
  • Patent number: 5985361
    Abstract: A robust polyurethane liner is disclosed for solid propellant rocket motors which is insensitive to large variations in stoichiometry, exhibits increased cohesive strength and, when used in combination with a unique two coat (wet coat) liner process described below, modifies the ballistic properties of the adjacent interfacial propellant layer. The liner compositions include a polymeric binder having a plurality of reactive hydroxyl functional groups and a curing agent having a plurality of reactive isocyanate functional groups. The quantity of binder and curing agent is selected such that the NCO/OH ratio is in the range from 1.5 to 4.5. Diisocyanate curing agents are particularly useful. A bonding agent, such as a polyfunctional aziridine compound, is typically present in the liner composition in an amount ranging from about 3% to about 5%, by weight. An oligomer catalyst is included in the liner composition in an amount ranging from about 15% to about 50%, by weight. Diammonium phosphate ((NH.sub.4).sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Thiokol Corporation
    Inventors: Larry W. Poulter, Ronald W. Nelson, Robert B. Smalley, Jr., Marvin C. Hawkins
  • Patent number: 5767221
    Abstract: A robust polyurethane liner is disclosed for solid propellant rocket motors which is insensitive to large variations in stoichiometry, exhibits increased cohesive strength and, when used in combination with a unique two coat (wet coat) liner process described below, modifies the ballistic properties of the adjacent interfacial propellant layer. The liner compositions include a polymeric binder having a plurality of reactive hydroxyl functional groups and a curing agent having a plurality of reactive isocyanate functional groups. The quantity of binder and curing agent is selected such that the NCO/OH ratio is in the range from 1.5 to 4.5. Diisocyanate curing agents are particularly useful. A bonding agent, such as a polyfunctional aziridine compound, is typically present in the liner composition in an amount ranging from about 3% to about 5%, by weight. An oligomer catalyst is included in the liner composition in an amount ranging from about 15% to about 50%, by weight. Diammonium phosphate ((NH.sub.4).sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Thiokol Corporation
    Inventors: Larry W. Poulter, Ronald W. Nelson, Robert B. Smalley, Jr., Marvin C. Hawkins
  • Patent number: 5277318
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for the removal of oversized contaminants from particulate material the is particularly suitable for the removal of contaminants from low density, high surface area particulate materials. The removal of contaminants is accomplished during the transfer of the particulate material from its storage or transport container to a receiving container. The apparatus comprises an assembly having a weir, a trap disposed adjacent said weir, a screen o for separating particulate material from oversized contaminants, a baffle, and an opening through which particulate material will flow freely. The weir has a weir trap flange extending laterally from a weir wall. The trap is configured to capture contaminants if the container to which the assembly is secured is maneuvered to initiate the flow of the particulate material from the container to the receiving container. When so maneuvered, the lowermost portion of the trap in the proximity of the flow of the particulate materials subtends the weir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 11, 1994
    Assignee: Thiokol Corporation
    Inventors: Robert B. Smalley, Jr., Bert H. Parry
  • Patent number: 4651764
    Abstract: Apparatus useful on space vehicles as a valve for establishing external pressure in a pressure container or otherwise as an engine for performing work. The apparatus is responsive to atomspheric pressure retained in a plenum are applied to one side of a piston which atomspheric pressure is greater than an external pressure applied to the other side of the piston in a vacuum environment. A method for operation of such apparatus is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1987
    Assignee: Morton Thiokol Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Miller, Jesse F. Scivally, Robert B. Smalley, Jr.