Patents Represented by Attorney John E. McRae

Find this attorney in the Justia Lawyer Directory

  • Continuous shaft seal
    Patent number: 4403521
    Abstract: A sealing device for sealing the joint between a through shaft and a wall partition. The sealing device is comprised of a relatively thin, flexible diaphragm sandwiched between nonrotatable pressure plates which are floatably positioned between two inclined cam elements. The cam elements are carried by two axially aligned rotatable shafts. When one of the shafts is rotated, the cam elements will force the other shaft to rotate. The intervening pressure plates do not rotate but merely wobble when the shafts are torqued. The sealing diaphragm, being interposed between the pressure plates, completely seals the opening of entry of the shafts from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1983
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Erwin f'Geppert
  • Adjustable combat vehicle armor
    Patent number: 4398446
    Abstract: Add-on armor for military vehicles to prevent premature vehicle obsolesce e to enemy threats arising after the date of vehicle manufacture. The vehicle is designed to accept detachable armor components or systems, thereby permitting armor replacement to meet new enemy threats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1983
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Victor H. Pagano, William J. Seyfert
  • Full spectrum selective color producing and spraying device
    Patent number: 4397422
    Abstract: Apparatus for mixing and spraying colorants, such as paints or dyes. The apparatus comprises means for directing pressurized air through a venturi. Individual tubes or lines extend from individual colorant containers to the throat of the venturi, whereby the fast-moving air entrains the colorants into the air stream; the air colorant mixture is fed through a spray gun and onto the work to be colored. Metering valves in the individual colorant lines control the relative amounts of specific colorants admitted to the venturi throat, and hence the final color of the mixture discharged from the gun onto the work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1983
    Inventor: Marion V. Gwyn
  • Cover hold down mechanism
    Patent number: 4395062
    Abstract: This invention pertains to a screw-nut mechanism for clamping two work pis together. In one application the mechanism is used to clamp a cover plate over an access opening in a vehicle hull or similar member. The screw-nut mechanism is specially designed for use where one face of the hull or similar fixed work piece is inaccessible for welding or otherwise affixing the nut on the concealed face of the inaccessible work piece. I provide a screw-nut mechanism that avoids the necessity for affixing the nut to the work piece. In my invention the nut is a loose hardware item that can have a thread length proportional to the expected load, thereby avoiding strength problems associated with the formation of threads directly in relatively thin work pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1983
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Erwin F'Geppert
  • Logistic vehicle armor
    Patent number: 4391178
    Abstract: Protective covering for the cargo box of a military logistic vehicle. The sic fabric covering has special add-on pockets or sleeves for receiving alternative type of armor inserts (slats) for achieving various levels of ballistic hardening. Advantages of the system are easy armor adjustability or replaceability, and ability to remove the armor when it is not needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1983
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Victor H. Pagano
  • Ammunition storage and transfer mechanism
    Patent number: 4388854
    Abstract: A military tank having a turret, a gun mounted in the forward portion of turret, and ammunition storage magazines in the rear portion of the turret. A loader is arranged within the turret in alignment with the gun to transfer individual rounds of ammunition from the magazine area into the gun. The arrangement provides a compact storage system capable of storing a relatively large number of rounds in a given height turret.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1983
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Joseph M. Dabrowski, Valentine P. Daubar, Richard H. Fryer, John Geraltowski, James R. Underwood, Roger K. Waid, Jaunutis B. Gilvydis
  • Annular seal
    Patent number: 4387903
    Abstract: A seal assembly for an annular joint, comprising an outer ring, an inner g and an intervening membrane. The entire assembly is screwed into place as a one-step operation. Threads on the rings have the same pitch to preclude or minimize excessive axial advancement of one ring relative to the other ring during the seal installation operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1983
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Roger R. Smith
  • Driving-guidance system for a resilient vehicle propulsion band
    Patent number: 4386809
    Abstract: In a ground vehicle having resilient endless bands engaged with the terrain or suspension and propulsion purposes, improved novel roller arrangements for maintaining a desired band envelope under adverse operating conditions, such as large vehicle accelerations or decelerations, movement over rough bumpy terrain, or vehicle turning actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1983
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Algis L. Lapsys
  • Muzzle position sensor
    Patent number: 4383474
    Abstract: Gun muzzle deflection detector means comprising a depletion mode linear photodiode sensor having four electric outputs representing elevational and azimuth displacement of an optical signal impinging on the sensor face, said sensor outputs being combined and amplified to provide error signals representative of the muzzle deflection from a true zero deflection condition in the elevation and azimuth directions. An automatic gain control is used to adjust the error signals up or down inversely according to the absolute values of the light impinging on the sensor, thereby compensating for possible errors due to fog or airborne particulates in the optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1983
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Donald L. Paurus, Evert E. Lehtola
  • Reversible kingpin for trailers
    Patent number: 4383697
    Abstract: A novel adjustable skid plate assembly which permits any trailer so equip to be towed by any sufficiently-powered draft vehicle having a different lower fifth wheel height than the trailer. By rotation of the entire skid plate assembly different skid plates are presented for use with the draft vehicle. A latch means or counter weight means is provided to eliminate unwanted rotation of the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1983
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Erwin F'Geppert
  • Interchangeable fixed or damped towing system
    Patent number: 4382609
    Abstract: An A-frame trailer front end construction configured to alternately accept non-dampered connector for co-action with the towing vehicle or a damped connector without structural modification of the A-frame. Switch over between the damped and non-damped towing modes can be accomplished very quickly by the loosening and unloosening of mounting bolts between the connector and A-frame. The system enables the human operator to select the type of connection most conducive to human driver comfort, minimum inertial loading between the towed and towing vehicle, and lessened load forces on the vehicle brakes and suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1983
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Davis L. Hemmings
  • Fuel truck fire escape mechanism
    Patent number: 4377210
    Abstract: In a fuel transport vehicle, the improvement comprising a fire suppressant mechanism located between the cab area of the vehicle and the vehicle fuel storage tank. Should the vehicle jackknife or otherwise accidently capsize onto its side an automatic valve device causes the fire-suppressant mechanism to discharge a fire suppressant chemical onto the ground or road surface between the driver-occupied cab and the fuel cargo; thereby minimizing the possibility that spilled fuel will ignite and produce a flame in the area immediately adjacent the cab. The added margin of safety against burn injury will provide the driver with a stepping-stone path of escape from the fire zone. A manual over-ride control for the automatic valve will enable the valve to be operated in the event of a fire originating from careless handling of fuel or a malfunction of the automatic valve control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1981
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1983
    Inventor: Anthony J. Monte
  • Towbar assembly
    Patent number: 4374593
    Abstract: A towbar assembly wherein two individual towbars are arranged in a V-configuration between a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle. The leading ends of the towbars have special end connectors that hook around a single towing pintle so that each towbar carries approximately the same tensile loading irrespective of changes in vehicle pitch or roll attitude. Each towbar is essentially independent of the other towbar, whereby the towbar loadings are essentially in the direction of the bar longitudinal axis; bending forces are to a great extent eliminated. The invention is designed primarily for use in towing large heavy vehicles weighing in excess of fifty tons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1983
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Roger R. Smith, James L. Celentino
  • Vehicle cargo box cover
    Patent number: 4374601
    Abstract: In a military vehicle having a cargo box containing two facing troop seat semblies, the improvement comprising a rigid cargo box cover mountable on the box to shield the seated military personnel from the weather, said cover being formed of disconnectable panels for knockdown into a relatively flat storage package. The rigid cover is connected to the cargo box and also to the back structures of the troop seat assemblies so that the cover and seat assemblies act as mutual reinforcements for one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1980
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1983
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Chester J. Taylor, Carl O. Hinkley
  • Disconnectable coupling
    Patent number: 4362326
    Abstract: A disconnectable tube-to-tube coupling that includes a locking collar arred to span two radially-projecting rings carried by end fittings on the tubes. A special cam-like depresser sleeve is slidably arranged on the collar to move one of the rings into a groove in its end fitting, thereby breaking the coupling connection. The sleeve is operated by mechanical or manual force applied in the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1982
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Erwin F'Geppert
  • Lightweight one piece side rack with stakes for flatbed semitrailers
    Patent number: 4355835
    Abstract: A panel for upright positionment on a trailer/truck flatbed to convert the ed into a cargo container. The panel is formed as a one piece high density plastic foam or fiberglass reinforced plastic element having desired characteristics of high strength and light weight. At its lower edge the panel has a relatively wide center leg and two relatively narrow end legs dimensioned for snug fit insertion into pockets on the perimeter of the flatbed. Edge areas of the panel are preferably formed as tongue and groove devices to adapt the panel for interlocking connection with similar panels positioned on the flatbed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1982
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Earl M. Ash
  • Articulation joint roll stabilizer
    Patent number: 4353572
    Abstract: In an articulated vehicle, wherein the trailer has roll motion capability lative to the tractor, the improvement comprising hydraulic cylinder means for selectively locking out the roll mode capability when it is intended to operate the vehicle on smooth terrain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1982
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: William T. McCain
  • Two stage float valve
    Patent number: 4342328
    Abstract: A normally-open two stage float valve for use with a suction tube leading om a vehicle fuel tank. As the fuel tank begins to run dry it is desired that the float valve close off the tank to the suction force. The valve of this invention includes a float-operated pilot valve element that equalizes forces on the opposite faces of the main valve element as the float moves through its actuation stroke. A lifting head is associated with the pilot valve element for mechanically lifting or lowering the main valve element relative to the main seat when the forces have been equalized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1982
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Galal N. Matta
  • Bump stop for trunnion-mounted weapon
    Patent number: 4338852
    Abstract: A bump stop for a trunnion-mounted weapon that includes a torsion bar shock bsorber carried by the receiver portion of the weapon for absorbing shock loads as the weapon nears the limits of its upward and downward motion. The bump stop is advantageously characterized by compactness, high energy-absorbing capacity, durability, insensitivity to temperature or other environmental variations, and usability in two directions, up and down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1982
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Richard L. Jarvis
  • Mechanism for selectively adjusting ammunition feed chutes
    Patent number: 4333386
    Abstract: In association with a rapid-fire gun, a power-operated mechanism for adjung two ammunition supply chutes in positions to selectively feed ammunition to the gun. One chute feeds one type of ammunition, and the other chute feeds a different type of ammunition. The power-operated mechanism can be remotely controlled from a protected location within a military vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1982
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Donald N. Montgomery