Patents by Inventor Tom K. Highsmith

Tom K. Highsmith 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).

  • Propellant formulations based on dinitramide salts and energetic binders
    Patent number: 5741998
    Abstract: Composite propellant formulations are disclosed having a dinitramide salt oxidizer, such as ammonium dinitramide, an energetic binder, such as energetically substituted oxetane and oxirane polymers, a reactive metal, such as aluminum, and other typical propellant ingredients such as curatives and stabilizers. Propellant formulations useful for minimum smoke or reduced smoke applications, preferably include little or no reactive metal. The disclosed propellant formulations are able to combust the reactive metal efficiently, possess high burn rates, and produce little or no HCl exhaust gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Thiokol Corporation
    Inventors: Carol J. Hinshaw, Robert B. Wardle, Tom K. Highsmith
  • Insensitive high performance explosive compositions
    Patent number: 5529649
    Abstract: The use of 4,10-dinitro-2,6,8,12-tetraoxa-4,10-diazatetrocyclo[5.5.0.0.sup.5,9 0.sup.3,11 ]-dodecane as the major explosive ingredient in compositions useful in high performance, low sensitivity explosive applications is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Thiokol Corporation
    Inventors: Gary K. Lund, Tom K. Highsmith, Paul C. Braithwaite, Robert B. Wardle
  • Propellant formulations based on dinitramide salts and energetic binders
    Patent number: 5498303
    Abstract: Composite propellant formulations are disclosed having a dinitramide salt oxidizer, such as ammonium dinitramide, an energetic binder, such as poly(glycidyl nitrate), a reactive metal, such as aluminum, and other typical propellant ingredients such as curatives and stabilizers. The disclosed propellant formulations are able to combust aluminum efficiently, possess high burn rates, and produce little or no HCl exhaust gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Assignee: Thiokol Corporation
    Inventors: Carol J. Hinshaw, Robert B. Wardle, Tom K. Highsmith