David A Platts

US Patent:

6430917, Aug 13, 2002

Filed:

Feb 9, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/779977

Inventors:

David A. Platts - Los Alamos NM

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of California - Los Alamos NM

International Classification:

F02C 304

US Classification:

60 3943, 60804

Abstract:

There has been invented a turbine engine with a single rotor which cools the engine, functions as a radial compressor, pushes air through the engine to the ignition point, and acts as an axial turbine for powering the compressor. The invention engine is designed to use a simple scheme of conventional passage shapes to provide both a radial and axial flow pattern through the single rotor, thereby allowing the radial intake air flow to cool the turbine blades and turbine exhaust gases in an axial flow to be used for energy transfer. In an alternative embodiment, an electric generator is incorporated in the engine to specifically adapt the invention for power generation. Magnets are embedded in the exhaust face of the single rotor proximate to a ring of stationary magnetic cores with windings to provide for the generation of electricity. In this alternative embodiment, the turbine is a radial inflow turbine rather than an axial turbine as used in the first embodiment. Radial inflow passages of conventional design are interleaved with radial compressor passages to allow the intake air to cool the turbine blades.

US Patent:

6712479, Mar 30, 2004

Filed:

Apr 22, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/557581

Inventors:

Michael R. Seitzinger - Greenlake WI
David Platts - Los Alamos NM

Assignee:

Innovative Surgical Technology, Inc. - Los Alamos NM

International Classification:

G02B 1104

US Classification:

359512, 600169

Abstract:

The present invention includes maintaining the region of the proximal lens of a laparoscope at greater than ambient temperature in order to prevent fogging during use. Heating is accomplished using commercially available chemical heat packs generally used for heating boots or gloves, or by using electrically powered heating tape. The invention differs from other anti-fogging devices, which either immerse the distal lens region of the laparoscope in a warm fluid or treat this lens with anti-fogging solutions, in that above-ambient temperature is continuously maintained throughout the laparoscope, since it is known that a cool laparoscope fogs when placed in the vicinity of warm, wet patient tissue.

US Patent:

6807802, Oct 26, 2004

Filed:

Jul 30, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/209308

Inventors:

David A. Platts - Los Alamos NM

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of California - Los Alamos NM

International Classification:

F02C 304

US Classification:

60 3943

Abstract:

A rotor for use in turbine applications has a centrifugal compressor having axially disposed spaced apart fins forming passages and an axial turbine having hollow turbine blades interleaved with the fins and through which fluid from the centrifugal compressor flows.

US Patent:

7044718, May 16, 2006

Filed:

Jul 8, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/614772

Inventors:

David A. Platts - Los Alamos NM, US

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of California - Los Alamos NM

International Classification:

F04B 17/00
F04B 35/00

US Classification:

417405, 415206, 4161988, 416189, 60 3943, 60726, 60805

Abstract:

A rotor for use in turbine applications has a radial compressor/pump having radially disposed spaced apart fins forming passages and a radial turbine having hollow turbine blades interleaved with the fins and through which fluid from the radial compressor/pump flows. The rotor can, in some applications, be used to produce electrical power.

US Patent:

7095311, Aug 22, 2006

Filed:

Nov 25, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/723073

Inventors:

Don M. Coates - Santa Fe NM, US
Scott D. Briles - Los Alamos NM, US
Daniel L. Neagley - Albuquerque NM, US
David Platts - Santa Fe NM, US
David D. Clark - Santa Fe NM, US

Assignee:

The Regents of the University of California - Los Alamos NM

International Classification:

H04Q 5/22

US Classification:

340 1041, 340 1033, 340 101, 340 102, 340 103, 340 104, 340 105

Abstract:

An identifying coding apparatus employing modulated reflectance technology involving a base station emitting a RF signal, with a tag, located remotely from the base station, and containing at least one antenna and predetermined other passive circuit components, receiving the RF signal and reflecting back to the base station a modulated signal indicative of characteristics related to the tag.

US Patent:

20040185396, Sep 23, 2004

Filed:

Mar 21, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/395045

Inventors:

Louis Rosocha - Los Alamos NM, US
Don Coates - Santa Fe NM, US
David Platts - Los Alamos NM, US

Assignee:

THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

International Classification:

F23B001/00

US Classification:

431/002000

Abstract:

A device that uses electrical discharges/nonthermal plasmas in a gaseous medium to activate a fuel or fuel-oxidizer mixture to promote more effective and efficient combustion, in which a dielectric barrier discharge or silent discharge plasma is used to break up larger organic molecules (the fuel) into smaller ones that are more easily and completely combusted. The discharge also creates free radicals that promote more efficient combustion. The device is a cylindrical, coaxial (cylinder in a cylinder) dielectric barrier discharge/silent discharge plasma reactor. It includes two conducting electrodes, one or both of which are covered by a dielectric material. The electrodes are separated by a thin, gas-containing space. A high voltage is applied to the electrodes to create electric discharge streamers in the gas. The discharges are the source of the nonthermal plasma.

US Patent:

20050019714, Jan 27, 2005

Filed:

Jul 24, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/626017

Inventors:

David Platts - Los Alamos NM, US
Don Coates - Santa Fe NM, US
Louis Rosocha - Los Alamos MN, US

International Classification:

F23B001/00

US Classification:

431002000

Abstract:

Apparatus and method for enhancing combustion comprises an enclosure defining an opening for introduction of a gas and openings for the introduction of air, with a nozzle in the opening for introduction of a fuel gas into the enclosure. First and second electrodes are located in the enclosure, the first and second electrodes being coated with dielectric material, and being connected to an electrical power supply. With electrical power applied to the first and second electrodes and with the fuel gas sprayed into the enclosure, an atmospheric pressure plasma created by a dielectric barrier discharge is produced in the enclosure that cracks the fuel gas prior to its mixing with air introduced through the openings for the introduction of air.

US Patent:

54033373, Apr 4, 1995

Filed:

Jul 5, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/271047

Inventors:

David Platts - Los Alamos NM

International Classification:

A61B 1732

US Classification:

606167

Abstract:

A surgical scalpel having a replacable, retractable cutting blade which may be locked in the operating or deployed position using a single digit on one hand is described. Safety of hospital personnel and medical waste disposal personnel is achieved without loss of function or convenience of the scalpel.