Richard Joseph Gallegos

Title: Richard Joseph Gallegos and Solid-State Thermal Switching

Introduction

Richard Joseph Gallegos is an inventor associated with Albuquerque, New Mexico, and National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC. His patent work includes a thermal-switch design intended to function as an irreversible thermal fuse. The available information identifies 1 patent associated with him.

Latest Patents

Gallegos’s patent, “Irreversible, Normally Closed, Solid-State Thermal Switch,” describes a switch made with a rare-earth metal hydride thin film. The film can be integrated with an onboard microheater to actuate the switch.

The active material undergoes a thermodynamically stable reduction-oxidation (REDOX) reaction that produces a substantial change in electrical resistance. Once switched, the device remains in that state after cooling to room temperature, making it irreversible and suitable for use as a thermal fuse. The REDOX-based approach also supports passive operation in thermal environments.

Career Highlights

Gallegos’s documented invention applies solid-state materials and REDOX chemistry to thermal protection. Its design combines a thin-film switching material with the potential for microheater actuation, while also allowing the device to respond passively to heat.

Collaborations

The listed coworkers associated with Gallegos include Michael J. K. Abere and David P. Adams. The available information does not specify their individual roles in the patent.

Conclusion

Richard Joseph Gallegos’s patented thermal switch uses a stable material transformation to create an irreversible change in resistance, offering a solid-state approach to thermal-fuse applications.