Did You Know...
...that in the early 1940s GE engineer James Wright was charged with a task of utmost importance to the war effort: develop a cheap substitute for rubber that could be used to produce tires, gas masks and a whole host of military gear. Wright tackled the task diligently -- and wound up inventing Silly Putty.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7997059 | Propulsion system A propulsion system for use in a liquid or gas fluid is provided including an axially-extending funnel-shaped conduit, a flow generator, a power source, and, optionally, an airfoil-shaped wing. The funnel-shaped conduit has outer walls forming an inner fluid passage... | 08/16/2011 |
| 7980057 | Integral composite rocket motor dome/nozzle structure An integral composite rocket motor nozzle. The novel nozzle includes a first layer of a first reinforcement material, a second layer of a second reinforcement material, and a common matrix material surrounding the first and second reinforcement materials such that t... | 07/19/2011 |
| 7836678 | Propulsion system A propulsion system for use in a liquid or gas fluid is provided including an axially-extending funnel-shaped conduit, a flow generator, a power source, and, optionally, an airfoil-shaped wing. The funnel-shaped conduit has outer walls forming an inner fluid passage... | 11/23/2010 |
| 7565795 | Piezo-resonance igniter and ignition method for propellant liquid rocket engine An ignition system for a rocket engine utilizes the pressure energy in a propellant flow. The propellant flow generates an oscillating pressure force in a resonance system which is then transmitted to a piezoelectric system. The electrical pulses are utilized to gen... | 07/28/2009 |
| 7458201 | Propulsion device with enclosed plenum A propulsion device contains a working mass within an enclosed plenum, where the working mass is recirculated through the plenum to produce a net force vector. The working mass is accelerated around a first bend or change in direction within the plenum by a working ... | 12/02/2008 |
| 7404288 | High propulsion mass fraction hybrid propellant system Disclosed is a propulsion system having a structural configuration that provides easy and convenient access to the interior regions of a liquid fuel tank and a hybrid rocket motor case. The system operates with a high oxidizer-to-fuel ratio and a high bulk density p... | 07/29/2008 |
| 7358314 | Polybenzoxazole-filled nitrile butadiene rubber compositions An insulation composition that comprises at least one nitrile butadiene rubber (“NBR”) having an acrylonitrile content that ranges from approximately 26% by weight to approximately 35% by weight and polybenzoxazole (“PBO”) fibers. The NBR may be a copolymer ... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7350619 | Auxiliary power unit exhaust duct with muffler incorporating an externally replaceable acoustic liner Methods and apparatus are provided for an exhaust duct having an externally replaceable acoustic liner. The exhaust duct includes a forward section that is configured to be axially coupled with a bulkhead collar on the aircraft, a body section that is coupled to the... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7299636 | Extendible exhaust nozzle bell for a rocket engine An exhaust nozzle bell for a rocket engine including a first part arranged on a motor of the rocket engine, and a second part coupled to the first part. The second part having a stowed position in which the second part surrounds the first part and is positioned clos... | 11/27/2007 |
| 7296396 | Method for using variable supersonic Mach number air heater utilizing supersonic combustion A supersonic combustion apparatus and method for using the same including a fixed geometric nozzle having a converging area, throat, and a diverging area, at least one fuel injection means and at least one flame stabilization means located in the divergent area, and... | 11/20/2007 |
| 7271127 | Catalyst for partial oxidation reforming of fuel and fuel reforming apparatus and method using the catalyst Disclosed is a catalyst for a partial oxidation reforming reaction of fuel in the form of disk having through-hole. In addition, according to the invention, there is provided a fuel reforming apparatus and method using the catalyst. The catalyst for a partial oxidat... | 09/18/2007 |
| 7185675 | Reduced gain thrust control valve A reduced gain thrust control valve for use in a rocket engine has a housing with a fluid inlet and a piston and cylinder unit for controlling a fluid output of the control valve. The fluid inlet is formed by at least one metering element formed in the housing. The ... | 03/06/2007 |
| 7165388 | Propulsion device with enclosed plenum A propulsion device contains a working mass within an enclosed plenum, where the working mass is circulated through the plenum to produce a net force vector. The working mass is accelerated around a first bend or change in direction within the plenum by a working ma... | 01/23/2007 |
| 7083143 | Apparatuses and methods for attaching engines and other structures to aircraft wings Apparatuses and methods for attaching jet engines and other external structures to aircraft wings are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, an aircraft system includes a wing and a unitary fitting fixedly attached to the wing. The unitary fitting can include a first ... | 08/01/2006 |
| 7062918 | Diffuser arrangement A diffuser arrangement is provided in which a wall surface of the diffuser arrangement incorporates an upstream part and a downstream part with an aperture between them. There is a step displacement between the upstream part and the downstream part along with specif... | 06/20/2006 |
| 7063290 | Mounting system inserted between an aircraft engine and a rigid structure of an attachment strut fixed under a wing of this aircraft This invention relates to a mounting system (1) inserted between an aircraft engine and a rigid structure of an attachment strut, the system particularly comprising a thrust resistance device (20). The thrust resistance device (20) comprises two... | 06/20/2006 |
| 7047722 | Small scale hybrid engine (SSHE) utilizing fossil fuels This invention describes a miniaturized hybrid diesel-electric engine formed by a closed-loop system powered by plasma-aided combustion of JP-8 fuel (or other hydrocarbon fuels) working in tandem with a vapor cycle utilizing miniaturized expanders and condensers. Th... | 05/23/2006 |
| 7002126 | Projectile steering by plasma discharge A device and method for guiding or steering projectiles (self-propelled or non-self-propelled), or missiles, and for steering a supersonic projectile, or a missile, having a nose, generally in the shape of a cone, having a more or less pointed end, and capable of cr... | 02/21/2006 |
| 6983587 | Method and apparatus for thrust augmentation for rocket nozzles A method and apparatus for augmenting thrust in a rocket traveling through atmospheric gas. Rocket motor designs are provided where a throat(s) from one or more rocket motors eject high-speed primary exhaust gas in a configuration which peripherally surrounds an out... | 01/10/2006 |
| 6968673 | Cool gas generator and ultra-safe rocket engine A gas generator or rocket engine includes: a first storage tank configured to contain a high-pressure liquid propellant; a nozzle connected to the first storage tank; a heat source connected between the first storage tank and the nozzle and configured to add heat to... | 11/29/2005 |
| 6964396 | Automatic accel voltage tracking system for an ion thruster A voltage tracking system for an ion thruster includes a discharge chamber, a screen grid, an accelerator grid, and an accelerator grid voltage controller. The discharge chamber contains plasma at a given potential. The screen grid is adjacent to the discharge chamb... | 11/15/2005 |
| 6965625 | Apparatuses and methods for generating coherent electromagnetic laser radiation The present disclosure is directed to laser apparatuses for generating coherent electromagnetic laser radiation having an electron beam generator, a diffraction grating element oriented such that a beam of electrons from the electron beam generator is directed over ... | 11/15/2005 |
| 6960975 | Space vehicle propelled by the pressure of inflationary vacuum state A space vehicle propelled by the pressure of inflationary vacuum state is provided comprising a hollow superconductive shield, an inner shield, a power source, a support structure, upper and lower means for generating an electromagnetic field, and a flux modulation ... | 11/01/2005 |
| 6948307 | Rocket engine nozzle that is steerable by means of a moving diverging portion on a cardan mount The nozzle comprises a moving diverging portion (20) and a static portion (16) secured to the rear end wall of the combustion chamber (12) of the engine. A cardan mount jointed link device connects the moving diverging portion of the nozzle to t... | 09/27/2005 |
| 6948306 | Apparatus and method of using supersonic combustion heater for hypersonic materials and propulsion testing A supersonic combustion apparatus and method of using the same including a side wall cavity having an enhanced mixing system with ground-based oxygen injection for hypersonic material and engine testing. ... | 09/27/2005 |
| 6945495 | Hydrogen powered toy rocket utilizing hydrogen from the electrolysis of water A toy rocket assemblage including a chamber containing water and an anode and cathode and a power supply for the anode and cathode to generate oxygen and hydrogen in the chamber. A plenum chamber for collecting the oxygen and hydrogen gasses. A toy rocket on a launc... | 09/20/2005 |
| 6918243 | Bi-propellant injector with flame-holding zone igniter A bi-propellant injector (66) includes a first injector element (68) and a second injector element (70) injecting a first propellant (69) and a second propellant (71), respectively, into a combustion chamber (53). A flame-ho... | 07/19/2005 |
| 6901740 | Engine with a central spike for a space launcher The pointed end of a central spike, used in an engine of a space launcher, may have a deformable structure that can adopt either a folded position or a deployed position. ... | 06/07/2005 |
| 6892525 | Micropump-based microthruster A thruster for providing thrust for spacecraft positioning, which has a propellant reservoir for storing propellant, a reaction chamber for discharging a vapor for providing thrust, a pump module comprising one or more micropumps for drawing propellant from the rese... | 05/17/2005 |
| 6886327 | NiAl-based approach for rocket combustion chambers A multi-layered component, such as a rocket engine combustion chamber, includes NiAl or NiAl-based alloy as a structural layer on the “hot” side of the component. A second structural layer is formed of material selected from Ni-based superalloys, Co-based alloys... | 05/03/2005 |
| 6832471 | Expander cycle rocket engine with staged combustion and heat exchange In a supersonic nozzle incorporating injectors and a combustion chamber as part of an expander cycle rocket engine, the oxidizer is injected in two streams. One of the streams, preferably a small fraction of the total, is injected into an upstream or preburner secti... | 12/21/2004 |
| 6786036 | Bimodal fan, heat exchanger and bypass air supercharging for piston or rotary driven turbine The present invention relates to turbine fan aircraft use. In particular, the present invention is directed toward a turbine fan driven by a piston or rotary (e.g., Wankel) engine. The present invention makes possible the most flexible and effective installation of ... | 09/07/2004 |
| 6787586 | EPDM rocket motor insulation A novel and improved EPDM formulation for a solid propellant rocket motor is described wherein hexadiene EPDM monomer components are replaced by alkylidene norbornene components, and, with appropriate adjustment of curing and other additives, functionally required r... | 09/07/2004 |
| 6620519 | System and method for inhibiting corrosion of metal containers and components A method and system for inhibiting corrosion of aluminum and other metal-containing components and structures exposed to water is disclosed. In one embodiment, the silicate solution is used as a test fluid medium for structural testing of aluminum-alloy o... | 09/16/2003 |
| 6566420 | EPDM rocket motor insulation A novel and improved EPDM formulation for a solid propellant rocket motor is described wherein hexadiene EPDM monomer components are replaced by alkylidene norbornene components and with appropriate adjustment of curing and other additives functionally-re... | 05/20/2003 |
| 6492784 | Propulsion device and method employing electric fields for producing thrust Thrust is provided to a vehicle using a self-contained device for producing the thrust through a preselected shaping of an electric field. The device includes a core carried by a housing, with both the core and the housing formed from a material having a ... | 12/10/2002 |
| 6487844 | Aerospike augmentation of microthruster impulse A microthruster (11) provides a small unit force. The microthruster is useful, for example, as a propellant for a microsatellite. The microthruster includes an aerospike (12) extending outwardly beyond the face of an outer wall of the chamber (14) of the ... | 12/03/2002 |
| 6432178 | Apparatus to separate gas from a liquid flow A gas arrestor separates entrained gas from a liquid medium. The gas arrestor is a porous member, such as a woven mesh screen having pores of a size sufficiently small to enable liquid transport while inhibiting gas transport. Since the trapped gas has a ... | 08/13/2002 |
| 6408614 | High-power pressure wave source High-power pressure wave source for generating pressure waves that can be repeated by igniting a combustible fluid mixture and by increasing its rate of combustion up to detonation. The high-performance pressure wave source has a channel, which expands to... | 06/25/2002 |
| 6343464 | Solar thermal rocket A thermal solar rocket that includes a solar energy receiver having two sections (a thermal energy storage section and a direct gain section), a solar concentrator, and a propulsion nozzle. In one embodiment, the focus of the solar energy between the stor... | 02/05/2002 |
