Patents by Inventor C. McClain

C. McClain 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: 8502987
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of determining the near angle scattering of a sample reflective surface comprising the steps of: a) splitting a beam of light having a coherence length of greater than or equal to about 2 meters into a sample beam and a reference beam; b) frequency shifting both the sample beam and the reference beam to produce a fixed beat frequency between the sample beam and the reference beam; c) directing the sample beam through a focusing lens and onto the sample reflective surface, d) reflecting the sample beam from the sample reflective surface through a detection restriction disposed on a movable stage; e) recombining the sample beam with the reference beam to form a recombined beam, followed by f) directing the recombined beam to a detector and performing heterodyne analysis on the recombined beam to measure the near-angle scattering of the sample reflective surface, wherein the position of the detection restriction relative to the sample beam is varied to occlude at least a portion of t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Russell A. Chipman, Brian J. Daugherty, Stephen C. McClain, Steven A. Macenka
  • Publication number: 20060148967
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to the provision of premixed aqueous compositions which are used to provide a paint composition of varying finish characteristics at the point of sale. Thus, the merchant distributing the paint composition made from the subject premixed compositions need only maintain inventory of four compositions. The particular compositions which are the subject of the invention exhibit stable characteristics during storage in their respective reservoirs. The compositions include a pigment composition, a dispersant thickening agent, a high resin content binder, and a low resin content binder. The compositions are combined in differing amounts to produce paint compositions being suitable for either interior or exterior use and having differing sheens, quality levels, and color bases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2006
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Inventors: C. McClain, Randall Hughes
  • Patent number: 5166692
    Abstract: An adaptive RADAR environmental signal filter (1) is described which selectively preprocesses RF RADAR input data prior to the data's utilization by a processor (8). The filter (1) consists of an array of parallel discriminator cells (165) which compare incoming RF RADAR data to a window parameterized by predetermined threshold values. The array of discriminator outputs are networked through combinational logic (59) in order to provide an output correlation signal (63) to an external processor (8). A discriminator enable latch (55) synchronizes the discriminator outputs as the outputs pass through the combinational logic (59).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1992
    Assignee: Loral Aerospace Corp.
    Inventors: Donald C. McClain, Andrew L. Spradley, Ki H. Baek
  • Patent number: 4990056
    Abstract: A stator vane stage in a split-case, variable geometry axial flow compressor includes two 180-degree spoke-like arrays of stator vanes on upper and lower case halves of the compressor case and a pair of unitary, 180-degree arc shroud ring segments. Each stator vane has a pivot shaft at one end rotatably supported in a radial bore in the corresponding case half by a bushing and a cylindrical vane button at the other end. Each shroud ring segment has a corresponding plurality of cylindrical vane button sockets in an outer surface thereof which rotatably receives a corresponding vane button. The spoke-like array of the stator vanes rigidly positions the shroud ring segments relative to the compressor case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: John C. McClain, Patrick D. Murphy, David S. Huelster
  • Patent number: 4859149
    Abstract: A locking system for blades in a circumferential dovetail groove in a rotor of a gas turbine engine, the blades having dovetail roots in the groove and platforms resting on steady rest flanges on the outside surface of the rotor on opposite sides of the slot between converging shoulders of the dovetail groove. The blade locking system includes an inner lock member between roots of a pair of adjacent blades, an outer lock member captured in aligned notches in the steady rest flanges between the rotor and the platforms of the adjacent blades, and a screw extending through a clearance hole in the outer lock member into a threaded bore in the inner lock member. When the screw is tightened, the inner and outer lock members are clamped against the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: John C. McClain