Patents by Inventor Thomas P. Rudy

Thomas P. Rudy 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: 5334238
    Abstract: Disclosed is a novel method for cleaning an electrostatic precipitator by directing a stream of cleaning gas through a flexible tube positioned inside the electrostatic precipitator. The stream of gas causing the flexible tube to move randomly directing the stream of gas at the precipitator plates with sufficient force to dislodge particles adhered to such plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Forrest R. Goodson, Thomas P. Rudy
  • Patent number: 5169620
    Abstract: An improved method of manufacturing superfine iron oxide particles by introducing a gas mixture of a non-oxidizing gas and an iron-containing compound into a stream of heated oxidizing gas, wherein the improvement resides in the use of an insulated injector to introduce the gas mixtures into the heated oxidizing gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas P. Rudy, Forrest R. Goodson
  • Patent number: 5047382
    Abstract: A method for making a ferric oxide burning rate enhancing catalyst that results in a smaller particle size high surface area catalyst. The method comprises diluting a gaseous iron-containing compound with an oxygen-containing gas at a temperature such that the rate of oxidation is negligible and oxidizing the diluted gaseous iron-containing compound in an oxygen-containing environment. Ferric oxide particles are formed, suspended in the oxygen-containing environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1991
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas P. Rudy, Forrest R. Goodson
  • Patent number: 4881994
    Abstract: A method of making a ferric oxide burning rate catalyst that results in a highly active, finely divided burning rate enhancing catalyst. An iron-containing compound that is capable of vaporization at a temperature below about 500.degree. C. is vaporized. A mixture comprising the vaporized iron-containing compound is combusted with a gas that is capable of supporting combustion in an oxygen environment and does not condense below about 100.degree. C. The ferric oxide burning rate catalyst made by this process is particulary adapted for use in a composite solid rocket propellant. This process provides an ultra pure, highly active, finely divided burning rate catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1989
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas P. Rudy, Forrest R. Goodson, Mark E. Dudley
  • Patent number: 4854981
    Abstract: A highly active, finely divided ferric oxide burning rate catalyst and method for making the same. The catalyst is made by vaporizing an iron-containing compound that is capable of vaporization at a temperature below about 500.degree. C., and is capable of forming ferric oxide when reacted with an oxygen-containing atmosphere at temperatures below about 500.degree. C. The iron-containing compound is then oxidized in an oxygen-containing atmosphere. The ferric oxide burning rate catalyst made by this process is particularly adapted for use in a composite solid rocket propellant. This process provides an ultra pure, highly active, finely divided burning rate catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1989
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Forrest R. Goodson, Mark E. Dudley, Thomas P. Rudy
  • Patent number: 4263071
    Abstract: The addition of copper phthalocyanine to composite solid propellant compositions has been found to substantially reduce the tendency toward combustion instability of the propellant. The invention is particularly useful in connection with smokeless composite propellants employing hydroxy-terminated polybutadiene as a binder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1974
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1981
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Leland S. Bain, Thomas P. Rudy
  • Patent number: 4260437
    Abstract: Metals such as copper and the transition elements may give rise to serious problems in conventional rubber based solid propellant binders. These metals may accelerate the curing action to such a degree that the pot life of the freshly mixed propellant is reduced. Also the metals may promote oxidative degradation of cured and uncured binder systems. These undesirable effects can be prevented by adding to the uncured binder certain binder soluble agents which are capable of forming stable complexes with the undesirable metals in which the valence of the metal ion is fixed. A wide variety of chelating agents can be used and include, particularly, the condensation products of salicylaldehyde with aliphatic di- and polyamines and with o-aminophenols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1981
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Toshio W. Nakagawa, Thomas P. Rudy
  • Patent number: 4221617
    Abstract: Certain surfactants as additives for castable composite solid propellants improve the physical properties of the cured solid propellant and improve the castability of the uncured solid propellant mix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1966
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1980
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas P. Rudy, Jack K. West
  • Patent number: 4166045
    Abstract: Combustion catalysts for solid propellants are extracted with a solution comprising a solvent in which the catalyst is essentially insoluble and a solute which is an effective chelating agent for metal ions which are present as interfering impurities in the combustion catalysts. This treatment does not affect the activity of the catalyst as a combustion catalyst in a solid propellant; however, the removal of the metal ions greatly increases the pot life of the solid propellant composition prior to cure and enhances its stability after cure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1973
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1979
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas P. Rudy, Toshio W. Nakagawa