Patents by Inventor Steven L. Garrett
Steven L. Garrett 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).
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Patent number: 10283225Abstract: A nuclear thermoacoustic device includes a housing defining an interior chamber and a portion of nuclear fuel disposed in the interior chamber. A stack is disposed in the interior chamber and has a hot end and a cold end. The stack is spaced from the portion of nuclear fuel with the hot end directed toward the portion of nuclear fuel. The stack and portion of nuclear fuel are positioned such that an acoustic standing wave is produced in the interior chamber. A frequency of the acoustic standing wave depends on a temperature in the interior chamber.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2017Date of Patent: May 7, 2019Assignees: The Penn State Research Foundation, U.S. Department of EnergyInventors: Steven L. Garrett, James A. Smith, Dale K. Kotter
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Publication number: 20170206988Abstract: A nuclear thermoacoustic device includes a housing defining an interior chamber and a portion of nuclear fuel disposed in the interior chamber. A stack is disposed in the interior chamber and has a hot end and a cold end. The stack is spaced from the portion of nuclear fuel with the hot end directed toward the portion of nuclear fuel. The stack and portion of nuclear fuel are positioned such that an acoustic standing wave is produced in the interior chamber. A frequency of the acoustic standing wave depends on a temperature in the interior chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2017Publication date: July 20, 2017Inventors: Steven L. Garrett, James A. Smith, Dale K. Kotter
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Patent number: 9646723Abstract: A nuclear thermoacoustic device includes a housing defining an interior chamber and a portion of nuclear fuel disposed in the interior chamber. A stack is disposed in the interior chamber and has a hot end and a cold end. The stack is spaced from the portion of nuclear fuel with the hot end directed toward the portion of nuclear fuel. The stack and portion of nuclear fuel are positioned such that an acoustic standing wave is produced in the interior chamber. A frequency of the acoustic standing wave depends on a temperature in the interior chamber.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2013Date of Patent: May 9, 2017Assignee: The Penn State Research FoundationInventors: Steven L. Garrett, James A. Smith, Dale K. Kotter
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Publication number: 20140050293Abstract: A nuclear thermoacoustic device includes a housing defining an interior chamber and a portion of nuclear fuel disposed in the interior chamber. A stack is disposed in the interior chamber and has a hot end and a cold end. The stack is spaced from the portion of nuclear fuel with the hot end directed toward the portion of nuclear fuel. The stack and portion of nuclear fuel are positioned such that an acoustic standing wave is produced in the interior chamber. A frequency of the acoustic standing wave depends on a temperature in the interior chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2013Publication date: February 20, 2014Applicant: The Penn State Research FoundationInventors: Steven L. Garrett, James A. Smith, Dale K. Kotter
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Patent number: 7143586Abstract: A thermocoustic device includes a housing with a thermal core supported in the housing and having a first and a second surface. The thermal core includes a first heat exchanger defining the first surface of the thermal core and a second heat exchanger defining the second surface of the thermal core. A main chamber is in fluid communication with the first surface of the thermal core and a secondary multiplier chamber is in fluid communication with the second surface of the thermal core. A working volume of a gaseous working fluid fills the main chamber, the multiplier chamber, and the thermal core at a pressure. An equilibrium pressure is defined as the pressure of the working volume of gaseous working fluids with the thermoacoustic device is in a non-operating mode.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2004Date of Patent: December 5, 2006Assignee: The Penn State Research FoundationInventors: Robert W. M. Smith, Matthew E. Poese, Ray S. Wakeland, Steven L. Garrett
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Patent number: 7055332Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a thermoacoustic device has a complaint enclosure which includes a rigid portion and a compliant portion. The compliant portion includes an oscillating member and a flexure seal with a pair of ends and a flexure body extending between the ends. One of the ends is sealed to the rigid portion and the other end is sealed to the oscillating member. The flexure seal has an average cross-sectional area and an end-to-end equilibrium length. A flexure volume is defined as the product of the average cross-sectional area and the end-to-end equilibrium length. A thermal core is disposed in the complaint enclosure and includes at least a first and a second heat exchanger. A working volume of gaseous working fluid fills the complaint enclosure. The working volume of gaseous working fluid has an equilibrium pressure.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2004Date of Patent: June 6, 2006Assignee: The Penn State Research FoundationInventors: Matthew L. Poese, Robert W. M. Smith, Ray S. Wakeland, Steven L. Garrett
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Patent number: 6897831Abstract: An electronically reconfigurable artificial magnetic conductor (RAMC) includes a frequency selective surface (FSS) having an effective sheet capacitance which is variable to control resonant frequency of the RAMC. In one embodiment, the RAMC further includes a conductive backplane structure and a spacer layer separating the conductive backplane structure and the FSS. The spacer layer includes conductive vias extending between the conductive backplane structure and the FSS, and voltage variable capacitive circuit elements coupled with the FSS and responsive to bias voltages applied on one or more bias signal lines routed through the conductive backplane structure and the conductive vias.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2001Date of Patent: May 24, 2005Assignee: Titan Aerospace Electronic DivisionInventors: William E. McKinzie, III, Victor C. Sanchez, Mark Reed, Steven L. Garrett
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Patent number: 6792764Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a thermoacoustic device has a complaint enclosure which includes a rigid portion and a compliant portion. The compliant portion includes an oscillating member and a flexure seal with a pair of ends and a flexure body extending between the ends. One of the ends is sealed to the rigid portion and the other end is sealed to the oscillating member. The flexure seal has an average cross-sectional area and an end-to-end equilibrium length. A flexure volume is defined as the product of the average cross-sectional area and the end-to-end equilibrium length. A thermal core is disposed in the complaint enclosure and includes at least a first and a second heat exchanger. A working volume of gaseous working fluid fills the complaint enclosure. The working volume of gaseous working fluid has an equilibrium pressure.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2003Date of Patent: September 21, 2004Assignee: The Penn State Research FoundationInventors: Matthew E. Poese, Robert W. M. Smith, Ray S. Wakeland, Steven L. Garrett
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Patent number: 6755027Abstract: One embodiment of a spring with an integral dynamic gas seal according to the present invention includes a spring with a pair of spaced-apart ends and a spring body extending therebetween. The spring body includes a perimeter wall formed of a first material and extending in a longitudinal direction. The wall has a plurality of openings defined therein. The openings are provided in a plurality of transverse tiers. Each tier includes a plurality of separate openings each extending along a portion of the perimeter. The openings in each tier are spaced apart so as to define a post between each adjacent opening such that each tier includes a plurality of posts. The openings in each tier are staggered with respect to the openings in adjacent tiers such that each of the openings in each tier overlie one of the posts in an adjacent tier. A closure member closes each of the openings such that the spring body is sealed.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2003Date of Patent: June 29, 2004Assignee: The Penn State Research FoundationInventor: Steven L. Garrett
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Patent number: 6725670Abstract: A thermocoustic device includes a housing with a thermal core supported in the housing and having a first and a second surface. The thermal core includes a first heat exchanger defining the first surface of the thermal core and a second heat exchanger defining the second surface of the thermal core. A main chamber is in fluid communication with the first surface of the thermal core and a secondary multiplier chamber is in fluid communication with the second surface of the thermal core. A working volume of a gaseous working fluid fills the main chamber, the multiplier chamber, and the thermal core at a pressure. An equilibrium pressure is defined as the pressure of the working volume of gaseous working fluids with the thermoacoustic device is in a non-operating mode.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2003Date of Patent: April 27, 2004Assignee: The Penn State Research FoundationInventors: Robert W. M. Smith, Matthew E. Poese, Steven L. Garrett, Ray S. Wakeland
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Patent number: 6646605Abstract: A tunable artificial dielectric material achieves the weight reductions made possible in U.S. Pat. No. 6,075,485 and further achieves even higher resonant frequency tuning ratios. In one embodiment of the invention, the artificial dielectric substrate for a patch antenna comprises alternating low and high permittivity layers, with the high permittivity layers each comprised of printed capacitive Frequency Selective Surface (FSS). An example FSS of the invention has a voltage tunable effective sheet capacitance by virtue of varactor diodes integrated into each unit cell. By appropriate adjustment of the bias voltage across the varactor diodes, the amount of the electric field stored in the substrate can be varied, which further varies the resonant frequency of the patch antenna.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2001Date of Patent: November 11, 2003Assignee: e-Tenna CorporationInventors: William E. McKinzie, III, Steven L. Garrett, James D. Lilly
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Publication number: 20030192323Abstract: According to one embodiment of the present invention, a thermoacoustic device has a complaint enclosure which includes a rigid portion and a compliant portion. The compliant portion includes an oscillating member and a flexure seal with a pair of ends and a flexure body extending between the ends. One of the ends is sealed to the rigid portion and the other end is sealed to the oscillating member. The flexure seal has an average cross-sectional area and an end-to-end equilibrium length. A flexure volume is defined as the product of the average cross-sectional area and the end-to-end equilibrium length. A thermal core is disposed in the complaint enclosure and includes at least a first and a second heat exchanger. A working volume of gaseous working fluid fills the complaint enclosure. The working volume of gaseous working fluid has an equilibrium pressure.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2003Publication date: October 16, 2003Inventors: Mathew E. Poese, Robert W. M. Smith, Ray S. Wakeland, Steven L. Garrett
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Publication number: 20030192322Abstract: One embodiment of a spring with an integral dynamic gas seal according to the present invention includes a spring with a pair of spaced-apart ends and a spring body extending therebetween. The spring body includes a perimeter wall formed of a first material and extending in a longitudinal direction. The wall has a plurality of openings defined therein. The openings are provided in a plurality of transverse tiers. Each tier includes a plurality of separate openings each extending along a portion of the perimeter. The openings in each tier are spaced apart so as to define a post between each adjacent opening such that each tier includes a plurality of posts. The openings in each tier are staggered with respect to the openings in adjacent tiers such that each of the openings in each tier overlie one of the posts in an adjacent tier. A closure member closes each of the openings such that the spring body is sealed.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2003Publication date: October 16, 2003Inventor: Steven L. Garrett
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Publication number: 20030192324Abstract: A thermocoustic device includes a housing with a thermal core supported in the housing and having a first and a second surface. The thermal core includes a first heat exchanger defining the first surface of the thermal core and a second heat exchanger defining the second surface of the thermal core. A main chamber is in fluid communication with the first surface of the thermal core and a secondary multiplier chamber is in fluid communication with the second surface of the thermal core. A working volume of a gaseous working fluid fills the main chamber, the multiplier chamber, and the thermal core at a pressure. An equilibrium pressure is defined as the pressure of the working volume of gaseous working fluids with the thermoacoustic device is in a non-operating mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2003Publication date: October 16, 2003Inventors: Robert W. M. Smith, Matthew E. Poese, Steven L. Garrett, Ray S. Wakeland
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Publication number: 20020167457Abstract: An electronically reconfigurable artificial magnetic conductor (RAMC) includes a frequency selective surface (FSS) having an effective sheet capacitance which is variable to control resonant frequency of the RAMC. In one embodiment, the RAMC further includes a conductive backplane structure and a spacer layer separating the conductive backplane structure and the FSS. The spacer layer includes conductive vias extending between the conductive backplane structure and the FSS, and voltage variable capacitive circuit elements coupled with the FSS and responsive to bias voltages applied on one or more bias signal lines routed through the conductive backplane structure and the conductive vias.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2001Publication date: November 14, 2002Inventors: William E. McKinzie, Victor C. Sanchez, Mark Reed, Steven L. Garrett
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Publication number: 20020057222Abstract: A tunable artificial dielectric material achieves the weight reductions made possible in U.S. Pat. No. 6,075,485 and further achieves even higher resonant frequency tuning ratios. In one embodiment of the invention, the artificial dielectric substrate for a patch antenna comprises alternating low and high permittivity layers, with the high permittivity layers each comprised of printed capacitive Frequency Selective Surface (FSS). An example FSS of the invention has a voltage tunable effective sheet capacitance by virtue of varactor diodes integrated into each unit cell. By appropriate adjustment of the bias voltage across the varactor diodes, the amount of the electric field stored in the substrate can be varied, which further varies the resonant frequency of the patch antenna.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2001Publication date: May 16, 2002Inventors: William E. McKinzie, Steven L. Garrett, James D. Lilly
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Patent number: 6307287Abstract: A thermoacoustic driver incorporates a linear electrodynamic motor having electrical terminals and a moving part, a driver suspension housing, a piston, and a stiffness-enhancing device for raising the mechanical resonance frequency of the electrodynamic motor without reducing the piston stroke. The stiffness enhancement is accomplished by the use of specially optimized suspension spring structures and/or by attaching one or more electrical inductors to the electrical terminals of the driver. The stiffness enhancement using mechanical springs incorporates one or more starfish structures extending between the driver suspension housing and the piston and rigidly clamped to both. The starfish structures comprise radially extending legs, which are leaf springs or beams of varying width. The shape of the beams and the shape of the overall spring structure are optimized to enhance flexural or torsional stiffness and relieve arc tension within the constraints of cost-effectiveness.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2000Date of Patent: October 23, 2001Assignee: The Penn State Research FoundationInventors: Steven L. Garrett, Robert M. Keolian, Robert W. Smith
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Patent number: 5953921Abstract: This invention for the production of high amplitude acoustic standing wav which can be used for thermoacoustic heat transport purposes, describes the use of a rigid barrier in place of a piston, thereby allowing the suspension of the resonator to be external to the pressurized resonator and allowing an independent choice of motor mechanism, including the use of rotary motors instead of linear motors, while incidently providing a mechanism for circulating external heat transport fluids without requiring additional pumps or heat pipes.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 1998Date of Patent: September 21, 1999Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventor: Steven L. Garrett
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Patent number: 5857340Abstract: The resonance frequency of a gas-filled acoustic resonator (12) is stabilized against changes in frequency due to changes in the temperature of the gas and resonator (12) by placing a gas mixture and an adsorbent (16) within the resonator (12). If the temperature dependence of the adsorbency is different for the different species comprising the gas mixture, then it is shown that the proper amount of adsorbent (16) can maintain the acoustic resonant frequency of the gas mixture within resonator (12) very nearly equal to a constant frequency.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 1997Date of Patent: January 12, 1999Inventor: Steven L. Garrett
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Patent number: 5647216Abstract: A high-power thermoacoustic refrigerator including a half-wave length resonator, first and second drivers located in housings at first and second ends of said resonator, two pusher cones, a plurality of heat exchangers, a first and second stack, utilizing a compressible gas mixture capable of being tuned to the driver resonance frequency, a half-wave length tube, fluids disposed within said heat exchangers for transferring heat, and voice coils wired 180 degrees out of phase for compressing said compressible fluid into a standing wave oscillating within said resonator.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 1995Date of Patent: July 15, 1997Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventor: Steven L. Garrett