Patents by Inventor Robert M. Mitchell

Robert M. Mitchell 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: 6957540
    Abstract: A power plant (10) including a boiler unit portion (12) and a gas turbine unit portion (14) operable in multiple modes, including operation of the boiler unit portion independent of the gas turbine unit portion. Exhaust gas from the gas turbine is cooled in a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) (52, 54) where steam is produced. The exhaust gas may also be provided to support combustion in a separately fueled boiler (16). The exhaust gas may be extracted from any location within or downstream of the HRSG. Steam produced in the HRSG and/or in the boiler may be supplied to a steam turbine unit (42, 44, 46). Dampers (60, 62, 74) are provided to selectively direct the gas turbine exhaust to the boiler or to bypass the boiler. An existing boiler fired steam power plant may be reconfigured to have the described arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation
    Inventors: Michael S. Briesch, Robert M. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 6702033
    Abstract: A discharge valve element seals the outlet of a fire extinguisher vessel holding a fire suppressant. A source of gas pressurizes the suppressant at least when the extinguisher vessel is in a discharging condition. When the pressure acting on the element exceeds the threshold, the force resisting opening the element is overcome and substantially eliminated, whereupon the suppressant discharges through the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Aerojet-General Corporation
    Inventors: Robert M. Mitchell, Nicholas R. Arnot, George J. Callis
  • Patent number: 6095251
    Abstract: A fire is extinguished and suppressed, by a dual stage fire extinguisher. In a first stage, a sufficient amount of an inerting agent is delivered to extinguish the fire. Once the fire is extinguished, in the second stage, a different amount of inerting agent is delivered to the fire to prevent its re-ignition. Since suppression typically requires less of the inerting agent than extinguishing, a reduction in the weight of the inerting agent is achieved with the dual stage process making the system particularly amenable to aircraft applications such as in an engine nacelle or cargo dry bay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Primex Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Mitchell, Paul H. Wierenga, Randel L. Hoskins
  • Patent number: 6082464
    Abstract: A fire is inerted, extinguished and suppressed, by a dual stage fire extinguisher. In a first stage, a sufficient volume percentage of an inerting agent is delivered to extinguish the fire. Once the fire is extinguished, in the second stage, a different amount of inerting agent is delivered to the fire to suppress it and prevent re-ignition. Since suppression typically requires less of the inerting agent than extinguishing, a reduction in the weight of the inerting media is achieved with the dual stage process making the system particularly amenable to aircraft applications such as in an engine nacelle or cargo dry bay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Primex Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Mitchell, Paul H. Wierenga
  • Patent number: 5613562
    Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus for suppressing a fire. The apparatus includes a gas generator containing as a propellant, a mixture of a fuel, strontium nitrate as an oxidizer, and magnesium carbonate. When the propellant is ignited, a nitrogen rich effluent is generated that is effective to suppress the fire. By providing the propellant with at least 35%, by weight, of magnesium carbonate, the generation of effluent by-products that are corrosive to aluminum is inhibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Olin Aerospace Company
    Inventors: Lyle D. Galbraith, Gary F. Holland, Donald R. Poole, Robert M. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 5609210
    Abstract: There is provided an apparatus for suppressing a fire. The apparatus includes a gas generator charged with a combustive propellant. Upon ignition, the combustive propellant generates a copious volume of gas. The gas is directed by a first conduit to a chamber containing a packed powder that is effective to suppress a fire. A second conduit directs the gas driven packed powder to the fire. In one embodiment, the fire suppressing packed powder is magnesium carbonate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Olin Corporation
    Inventors: Lyle D. Galbraith, Gary F. Holland, Donald R. Poole, Robert M. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 5465795
    Abstract: There is disclosed an a flame suppressing composition and an apparatus for suppressing a fire. The composition contains a propellant and an effective amount of magnesium carbonate. One apparatus directs the effluent of a propellant at a mixture of ice and water to generate superheated steam. Preferably, the effluent is a mixture of hot gases and solid particulate directed by a nozzle to impinge upon the mixture of ice and water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Assignee: Olin Corporation
    Inventors: Lyle D. Galbraith, Gary F. Holland, Donald R. Poole, Robert M. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 5423384
    Abstract: An apparatus for suppressing a fire comprises a gas generator containing a propellant and a fire suppressant as a mixture of compacted powders. The average diameter of a fire suppressant particle is larger than the average diameter of a propellant particle and the larger fire suppressant particles form discrete cooling sites that do not dramatically reduce the propellant burn rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1995
    Assignee: Olin Corporation
    Inventors: Lyle D. Galbraith, Gary F. Holland, Donald R. Poole, Robert M. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 4771916
    Abstract: An assembly for opening and dispensing liquids from so-called "paper bottles".The assembly comprises an open ended tubular body adapted to secure within the open end, a paper bottle. A dispenser spout traverses the closed end of the tubular body and pivots to present a cutting blade to the paper bottle. Liquid seal member prevents leakage from an opened bottle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1988
    Assignee: Ocean Spray Corporation
    Inventor: Robert M. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 4417433
    Abstract: An infusion package that has a natural, expanded, unflattened or three-dimensional condition is folded to a flattened configuration to pack in quantity. The expanded condition gives greater internal volume by which infusion is improved and quickened. A pull string, affixed near the flattening folds, unfolds the package from its flattened configuration. To make the package, a tube can be formed into a generally tetrahedral shape by forming seams across it, each at 90.degree. to the preceding seam, severing the package so formed, and folding inward across one end seam to the tetrahedron to effect the flattening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1983
    Assignee: Thomas J. Lipton, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert M. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 4290521
    Abstract: An infusion package that has a natural, expanded, unflattened or three-dimensional condition is folded to a flattened configuration to pack in quantity. The expanded condition gives greater internal volume by which infusion is improved and quickened. A pull string, affixed near the flattening folds, unfolds the package from its flattened configuration. To make the package, a tube can be formed into a generally tetrahedral shape by forming seams across it, each at 90.degree. to the preceding seam, severing the package so formed, and folding inward across one end seam to the tetrahedron to effect the flattening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1981
    Assignee: Thomas J. Lipton, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert M. Mitchell
  • Patent number: D256669
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1980
    Assignee: Lever Brothers Company
    Inventor: Robert M. Mitchell
  • Patent number: D275454
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1984
    Assignee: The R. T. French Co.
    Inventor: Robert M. Mitchell