Patents by Inventor Anthony V. Raffa

Anthony V. Raffa has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6502522
    Abstract: A coil restraint device for a torpedo mounted dispenser of a torpedo assembly is disclosed. The torpedo assembly includes at least a torpedo body, a longitudinal propulsion shaft housed within the torpedo body, and a torpedo mounted dispenser connected to the longitudinal propulsion shaft at the aft end of the torpedo body. The torpedo mounted dispenser houses a wire payout coil and a flex hose surrounds the wire payout coil, a forward end of the flex hose being open and unrestrained. The coil restraint device includes a flexible band member having an inner surface, an outer surface, opposite ends, and opposing longitudinal edges. A strap is provided on the outer surface of the flexible band member, the strap having opposite distal ends extending beyond a length of the flexible band member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Robert F. Doleski, Anthony V. Raffa
  • Patent number: 5367970
    Abstract: In a fluid such as water the direction of a vessel is controlled by a fin ving at least one fixed chordwise segment and at least one cantilever mounted movable segment secured to the fixed segment by a backbone or spine spring at the neutral axis, and by differently tensioned control wires that are used to achieve camber variations under the influence of the vessel's control system. An elastomeric skin is supported on stiffeners to maintain the general fin cross section during such camber changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Charles H. Beauchamp, Laurence M. Dean, Anthony V. Raffa
  • Patent number: 5186420
    Abstract: An articulated control surface is provided for hydrodynamic control utilig a moldable control surface. The central surface is shaped by contracting and elongating wire bundles fabricated with shape-memory alloys located in an adjacent cooling chamber. The shape-memory alloys contract when heated via an applied electric current and elongate when cooled, i.e., the electric current is removed. A pair of wire bundles is anchored inside the cooling chamber. Each bundle is routed over several pulleys in such a manner that a lateral movement is produced at the actuator end of the wire. A pair of bundles act in opposition to maintain dynamic tension at the actuator end. Cooling flow to opposing wire bundles is controlled independently to enhance response time and reduce power requirements. The actuator is a post extending from the cooling chamber to the trailing edge structure of the control surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Charles H. Beauchamp, Manuel Cincotta, Jr., Anthony V. Raffa, Benoit G. Gauthier