Patents by Inventor Brian L. Cochran

Brian L. Cochran 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).

  • Method and apparatus for ram deceleration in a launch system
    Patent number: 8181906
    Abstract: One embodiment includes a launch vessel defining an elongate, linear interior extending from a bottom portion to an exit opening. The embodiment includes a ram slidably disposed in the launch vessel, the ram sealed to the vessel. The embodiment also includes one or more wedges coupled to the launch vessel along the interior proximal the exit opening, with each wedge shape sized to increasingly narrow a cross section of the interior along an exit vector extending from the bottom portion toward the exit opening. In the embodiment, the vessel is to house a charge proximal the bottom portion, the charge to propel the ram along the exit vector, with the one or more wedges sized to stop be ram inside the interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Koessler, Brian L. Cochran, Mark A. DeBake, Steven J. Elder
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR RAM DECELERATION IN A LAUNCH SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20100252676
    Abstract: One embodiment includes a launch vessel defining an elongate, linear interior extending from a bottom portion to an exit opening. The embodiment includes a ram slidably disposed in the launch vessel, the ram sealed to the vessel. The embodiment also includes one or more wedges coupled to the launch vessel along the interior proximal the exit opening, with each wedge shape sized to increasingly narrow a cross section of the interior along an exit vector extending from the bottom portion toward the exit opening. In the embodiment, the vessel is to house a charge proximal the bottom portion, the charge to propel the ram along the exit vector, with the one or more wedges sized to stop be ram inside the interior.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Publication date: October 7, 2010
    Applicant: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Koessler, Brian L. Cochran, Mark A. DeBake, Steven J. Elder