General Atomics patents

Forming closely spaced annular internal corrugations in circular waveguides

An apparatus for cutting annular corrugations in an interior surface of a cylindrical tube having a cutter head comprising a plurality of cutting teeth; a drive shaft coupled to the cutter head for spinning the cutter head; a mandrel coupled to the cutter head, wherein the mandrel defines a longitudinal... General Atomics

Method and inhibiting formation of and/or removing ice from aircraft components

Methods and systems are generally described that inhibit debris (such as ice) accretions and/or remove debris (such as ice) accretions from the exterior surface of an aircraft. In some embodiments, the invention is a system for an aircraft comprising: a component of the aircraft having a surface; a plurality of... General Atomics

Forming closely spaced annular internal corrugations in circular waveguides

An apparatus for cutting annular corrugations in an interior surface of a cylindrical tube having a cutter head comprising a plurality of cutting teeth; a drive shaft coupled to the cutter head for spinning the cutter head; a mandrel coupled to the cutter head, wherein the mandrel defines a longitudinal... General Atomics

Systems and methods for lighter-than-air high altitude platforms

An energy efficient and lighter-than-air high altitude platform (HAP) is disclosed that allows for sustained station keeping at high altitudes of about 50,000-80,000 feet for prolonged periods of time. The HAP includes an aerodynamically streamlined body that may have the topology of a torus. The body may be inflated with... General Atomics

Rotor assembly and manufacturing

Some embodiments provided rotor assemblies, comprising: a rotor core barrel comprising a wall extending, and at least two compression bridges each formed in the wall proximate one of the lateral ends and separated by a distance; an array of a plurality of magnets positioned on and spaced along the wall... General Atomics

Multi-level high-speed adjustable speed drive

A multi-level high-speed adjustable speed drive has a plurality of modular multilevel, 3-phase inverter bridges, wherein the multilevel, 3-phase inverter bridges operate with fundamental frequency, f, wherein the multilevel, 3-phase inverter bridges include at least three levels, wherein the multilevel, 3-phase inverter bridges operate in Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM) mode with... General Atomics

Modular nuclear fission waste conversion reactor

A modular, nuclear waste conversion reactor that continuously produces usable energy while converting U-238 and/or other fertile waste materials to fissionable nuclides. The reactor has a highly uniform, self-controlled, core (2) with a decades-long life and does not require reactivity control mechanisms within the boundary of the active core during... General Atomics

Magnet gripper and rotor assembly methods and systems

Some embodiments provide a magnet gripper system, comprising: a gripper base comprising a magnetically attractive face; at least two slide plate retaining systems; and two or more slide plates wherein at least one of the slide plates is movably cooperated with each of the at least two slide plate retaining... General Atomics

Method and system for growing microalgae in expanding sloped ponds

A system for growing an algal culture to create a biomass includes a plurality of linearly interconnected, sloped-gradient, gravity-driven, raceway ponds. Surface areas of the ponds are sequentially increased in accordance with a multiplier, with the pond surface area of the last raceway pond in the sequence being as large... General Atomics