Patents by Inventor William L. Dimpfl

William L. Dimpfl 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: 9963251
    Abstract: A parameter of an actual spacecraft can be estimated based on a spectroscopic image of an emission from an atomic or molecular product of an interaction between an atmospheric gas and an atomic or molecular species in a plume from the actual spacecraft. The actual spacecraft can be characterized by a set of values of at least N parameters. An N-dimensional lookup table can store information about a plurality of simulated emissions, each being from the atomic or molecular product of a simulated interaction between the atmospheric gas and the atomic or molecular species in a plume from a simulated spacecraft characterized by a corresponding set of values of the N parameters. A simulated emission can be selected based on comparisons between the information about the simulated emissions and the spectroscopic image. A value of at least one of the N parameters of the actual spacecraft can be estimated based on the selected simulated emission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: The Aerospace Corporation
    Inventor: William L. Dimpfl
  • Publication number: 20160347482
    Abstract: A parameter of an actual spacecraft can be estimated based on a spectroscopic image of an emission from an atomic or molecular product of an interaction between an atmospheric gas and an atomic or molecular species in a plume from the actual spacecraft. The actual spacecraft can be characterized by a set of values of at least N parameters. An N-dimensional lookup table can store information about a plurality of simulated emissions, each being from the atomic or molecular product of a simulated interaction between the atmospheric gas and the atomic or molecular species in a plume from a simulated spacecraft characterized by a corresponding set of values of the N parameters. A simulated emission can be selected based on comparisons between the information about the simulated emissions and the spectroscopic image. A value of at least one of the N parameters of the actual spacecraft can be estimated based on the selected simulated emission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Publication date: December 1, 2016
    Inventor: William L. DIMPFL
  • Patent number: 4605535
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an apparatus for measuring the size of gas entrained particles by detecting the rate of incandescent burning of the particles. Entrained particles are passed at a controlled velocity through a heated zone where they are gradually consumed. The radiant energy emitted by the burning particles is detected at varying locations along the path of flow through the heated zone. An indication of particle size distribution is obtained by deriving the third derivative of detected radiant energy intensity with respect to distance of flow through the heated zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1986
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company
    Inventor: William L. Dimpfl
  • Patent number: 4486535
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an apparatus for measuring the size of gas entrained particles by detecting the rate of incandescent burning of the particles. Entrained particles are passed at a controlled velocity through a heated zone where they are gradually consumed. The radiant energy emitted by the burning particles is detected at varying locations along the path of flow through the heated zone. An indication of particle size distribution is obtained by deriving the third derivative of detected radiant energy intensity with respect to distance of flow through the heated zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1984
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company
    Inventor: William L. Dimpfl
  • Patent number: 4434147
    Abstract: Sulfur oxide and nitrogen oxide control by use of a sulfur sorbent and sulfur dioxide oxidation promoter in the regenerator and downstream removal of nitrogen oxides by selective catalytic reduction using ammonia injection and trapped cracking catalyst fines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1984
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company
    Inventors: William L. Dimpfl, William A. Blanton
  • Patent number: 4397823
    Abstract: Carbonaceous particles are removed from an exhaust gas stream by passing the stream through a frustoconically shaped bleaching zone into which a similarly shaped diverging beam of laser radiation that is absorbed selectively by the particles is directed countercurrent to the stream. The radiation is reflected within the zone to increase the radiation density in the zone over that generated by the laser directly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1983
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company
    Inventor: William L. Dimpfl