Patents by Inventor Thad C. SMITH

Thad C. SMITH 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).

  • Off-axis annular precision initiation charge
    Patent number: 10267603
    Abstract: One embodiment provides an apparatus. The apparatus includes a substrate body that includes a top end, an opposing bottom end and a curved outer surface positioned there between, and a clear sight bore aperture centered at a longitudinal axis of the substrate body. The apparatus further includes a trunk line aperture defined in the outer surface of the substrate body. The trunk line aperture has a first end positioned at a top end of the substrate body, off-center from the longitudinal axis. The first end of the trunk line aperture is configured to couple to a detonator. The apparatus further includes a plurality of helical track apertures defined in the outer surface of the substrate body. A respective first end of each helical track aperture is coupled to the trunk line aperture. The apparatus further includes a plurality of termination apertures defined in the outer surface of the substrate body adjacent the bottom end of the substrate body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Andrew J. Marshall, Thad C. Smith, Carl E. Weiss, Joseph M. Herring
  • Off-Axis Annular Precision Initiation Charge
    Publication number: 20190033044
    Abstract: One embodiment provides an apparatus. The apparatus includes a substrate body that includes a top end, an opposing bottom end and a curved outer surface positioned there between, and a clear sight bore aperture centered at a longitudinal axis of the substrate body. The apparatus further includes a trunk line aperture defined in the outer surface of the substrate body. The trunk line aperture has a first end positioned at a top end of the substrate body, off-center from the longitudinal axis. The first end of the trunk line aperture is configured to couple to a detonator. The apparatus further includes a plurality of helical track apertures defined in the outer surface of the substrate body. A respective first end of each helical track aperture is coupled to the trunk line aperture. The apparatus further includes a plurality of termination apertures defined in the outer surface of the substrate body adjacent the bottom end of the substrate body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2017
    Publication date: January 31, 2019
    Inventors: Andrew J. MARSHALL, Thad C. SMITH, Carl E. WEISS, Joseph M. HERRING