Patents by Inventor William J. Worrell

William J. Worrell 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: 10801819
    Abstract: Methods of preparing propellant compositions for power loads and firearms that include providing pre-shaped particle sized starting material, shaped consistent with a desired final propellant product shape, and thereafter nitrating and stabilizing the pre-shaped starting material using boiling stabilization processes. The resulting nitrated propellants of the methods reliably exhibit complete stabilization, high nitrogen substitution, high shelf life and acceptable ballistic performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Worrell, Benjamin R. Vaughan, Jeffrey D. Archambault, Milca Fils-Aime
  • Patent number: 10254092
    Abstract: A muzzle loaded ammunition round having a bullet and a consumable cartridge case. The cartridge case is hollow and is filled with at least one propellant composition, the cartridge case being constructed from a consumable material, such as foamed celluloid. The bullet is commonly engaged to the propellant composition at least via the cartridge case, the propellant composition having a charge weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: Vista Outdoor Operations LLC
    Inventors: William J. Worrell, Jr., Drew Lee Goodlin, Richard Quesenberry, Jeffrey Bandel, Benjamin R. Vaughan, Sandra L. Case, Ming-Wan Young, Costas G. Gogos, Niloufar Faridi, Linjie Zhu, Peter Bonnett, Howard Shimm, Elbert Caravaca, Joseph Palk, Jr., Dale Conti, Mohamed Elalem, Fei Shen
  • Patent number: 10066911
    Abstract: Methods of preparing propellant compositions for power loads and firearms that include providing pre-shaped particle sized starting material, shaped consistent with a desired final propellant product shape, and thereafter nitrating and stabilizing the pre-shaped starting material using boiling stabilization processes. The resulting nitrated propellants of the methods reliably exhibit complete stabilization, high nitrogen substitution, high shelf life and acceptable ballistic performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Orbital ATK, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Worrell, Benjain R. Vaughan, Jeffrey D. Archambault, Milca Fils-Aime
  • Patent number: 9885550
    Abstract: Methods of preparing propellant compositions for power loads and firearms that include providing pre-shaped particle sized starting material, shaped consistent with a desired final propellant product shape, and thereafter nitrating and stabilizing the pre-shaped starting material using boiling stabilization processes. The resulting nitrated propellants of the methods reliably exhibit complete stabilization, high nitrogen substitution, high shelf life and acceptable ballistic performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Orbital ATK, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Worrell, Benjamin R. Vaughan, Jeffrey D. Archambault, Milca Fils-Aime
  • Patent number: 9395164
    Abstract: Methods of preparing propellant compositions for power loads and firearms that include providing pre-shaped particle sized starting material, shaped consistent with a desired final propellant product shape, and thereafter nitrating and stabilizing the pre-shaped starting material using boiling stabilization processes. The resulting nitrated propellants of the methods reliably exhibit complete stabilization, high nitrogen substitution, high shelf life and acceptable ballistic performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: Orbital ATK, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Worrell, Benjamin R. Vaughan, Jeffrey D. Archambault, Milca Fils-Aime
  • Patent number: 9377277
    Abstract: A muzzle loaded ammunition round having a bullet and a consumable cartridge case. The cartridge case is hollow and is filled with at least one propellant composition, the cartridge case being constructed from a consumable material, such as foamed celluloid. The bullet is commonly engaged to the propellant composition at least via the cartridge case, the propellant composition having a charge weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: VISTA OUTDOOR OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: William J. Worrell, Jr., Drew Lee Goodlin, Richard Quesenberry, Jeffrey Bandel, Benjamin R. Vaughan, Sandra L. Case, Ming-Wan Young, Costas G. Gogos, Niloufar Faridi, Linjie Zhu, Peter Bonnett, Howard Shimm, Elbert Caravaca, Joseph Palk, Jr., Dale Conti, Mohamed Elalem, Fei Shen
  • Patent number: 8881634
    Abstract: An encapsulated propellant charge comprised a sealed combustible container comprised of a consumable material and having a substantially cylindrical shape. The sealed combustible container comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, and a side wall therebetween. The top wall, the bottom wall and the side wall define a chamber; which contains a propellant composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Worrell, Jr., Benjamin R. Vaughan, Sandra L. Case, Ming-Wan Young, Costas G. Gogos, Niloufar Faridi, Linjie Zhu, Peter Bonnett, Howard Shimm, Elbert Caravaca, Joseph Palk, Jr., Dale Conti, Mohamed Elalem, Fei Shen
  • Publication number: 20120318123
    Abstract: An encapsulated propellant charge comprised a sealed combustible container comprised of a consumable material and having a substantially cylindrical shape. The sealed combustible container comprises a top wall, a bottom wall, and a side wall therebetween. The top wall, the bottom wall and the side wall define a chamber; which contains a propellant composition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: William J. Worrell, Benjamin R. Vaughan, Sandra L. Case
  • Publication number: 20120260814
    Abstract: A muzzle loaded ammunition round having a bullet and a consumable cartridge case. The cartridge case is hollow and is filled with at least one propellant composition, the cartridge case being constructed from a consumable material, such as foamed celluloid. The bullet is commonly engaged to the propellant composition at least via the cartridge case, the propellant composition having a charge weight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: William J. Worrell, Drew Lee Goodlin, Richard Quesenberry, Jeffrey Bandel, Benjamin R. Vaughan, Sandra L. Case
  • Publication number: 20100275487
    Abstract: A fixed round of ammunition for a muzzle loader firearm. The round has a bullet within a sabot that is engaged to a consumable cartridge case. The case is filled with propellant that is precisely calibrated to provide optimal ballistic properties with the particular bullet it is engaged to. The consumable cartridge case can be more tailored to respectively increase or decrease the burn rate of the consumable cartridge case. The consumable cartridge case can be constructed out of nitrocellulose or other energetic materials. A wide range of propellant formulas can be used that are safe because the burn rate is precisely calibrated for the bullet used. The propellant can contain pyrotechnic material and/or other ingredients to reduce the burn rate of a smokeless propellant and can contain a stabilizer to increase the shelf life of the ammunition round.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: Richard Quesenberry, Jeffrey Bandel, Drew Lee Goodlin, William J. Worrell
  • Patent number: 7726245
    Abstract: A fixed round of ammunition for a muzzle loader firearm. The round has a bullet within a sabot that is engaged to a consumable cartridge case. The case is filled with propellant that is precisely calibrated to provide optimal ballistic properties with the particular bullet it is engaged to. The consumable cartridge case can be more tailored to respectively increase or decrease the burn rate of the consumable cartridge case. The consumable cartridge case can be constructed out of nitrocellulose or other energetic materials. A wide range of propellant formulas can be used that are safe because the burn rate is precisely calibrated for the bullet used. The propellant can contain pyrotechnic material and/or other ingredients to reduce the burn rate of a smokeless propellant and can contain a stabilizer to increase the shelf life of the ammunition round.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Quesenberry, Jeffrey Bandel, Drew Lee Goodlin, William J. Worrell
  • Publication number: 20090266263
    Abstract: A fixed round of ammunition for a muzzle loader firearm. The round has a bullet within a sabot that is engaged to a consumable cartridge case. The case is filled with propellant that is precisely calibrated to provide optimal ballistic properties with the particular bullet it is engaged to. The consumable cartridge case can be more tailored to respectively increase or decrease the burn rate of the consumable cartridge case. The consumable cartridge case can be constructed out of nitrocellulose or other energetic materials. A wide range of propellant formulas can be used that are safe because the burn rate is precisely calibrated for the bullet used. The propellant can contain pyrotechnic material and/or other ingredients to reduce the burn rate of a smokeless propellant and can contain a stabilizer to increase the shelf life of the ammunition round.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Applicant: Alliant Techsystems Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Quesenberry, Jeffrey Bandel, Drew Lee Goodlin, William J. Worrell
  • Patent number: 6071444
    Abstract: A method of producing a perforation pattern in a slab of thermoplastic propellant material and the material produced includes subjecting the slab to a perforating press operation in which the press has a patterned array of fixed perforating members arranged according to a first pattern coordinated with a system for advancing and incrementally indexing the slab through the press is used to perforate the slab to create a desired second, denser perforation pattern by subjecting the slab to a series of perforation actions by the patterned array of perforating means coordinated with the indexing of the slab through the press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Worrell, Jr., David A. Worrell, II, Joseph M. Donckers
  • Patent number: 5323707
    Abstract: A multi-layered cylindrical propellant casing comprising an inner propellant-holding layer of polymer layer(s) obtained by lay up, blow molding, or similar fabrication of an energetic or nonenergetic type layer, coated with (an) intermediate adhesive layer(s) of an energetic or non-energetic type, and covered by an outer, concentrically arranged, coat or layer having a higher resistance, than said inner layer, to circumferential expansion; plus a corresponding method for increasing the amount of fragmentation and combustion rate of such propellant casing when exposed to a firing sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Assignee: Hercules Incorporated
    Inventors: Richard V. Norton, William J. Worrell, Jr.