Patents by Inventor Robert J. Fowler, IV

Robert J. Fowler, IV 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: 8397622
    Abstract: An ammunition elevator device is provided for raising and lowering ammunition. The device includes a housing, a crank assembly, a pawl mechanism, and a transfer linkage. The housing has a chamber flanked by first and second flanges. The assembly includes a crank axle, first and second sprockets mounted to the axle for elevating the ammunition, and a ratchet gear mounted to the axle adjacent to the first flange. The pawl mechanism includes a pawl, a toggle and a pin spreader. The transfer linkage has a rotatable bar pivotably connected to the second flange, a rod that radially shifts relative to the crank axle in response to the sprockets, and a pair of rotatable joints. The ratchet gear connects to the axle adjacent the first flange, wherein the gear cyclically pivots the pawl for raising the toggle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Robert J. Fowler, IV, Carter G. Timberlake, Michael M. Canaday
  • Publication number: 20120312153
    Abstract: An ammunition elevator device is provided for raising and lowering ammunition. The device includes a housing, a crank assembly, a pawl mechanism, and a transfer linkage. The housing has a chamber within which to elevate the ammunition flanked by first and second flanges. The assembly, rotatably disposed between the flanges, has a crank axle, first and second sprockets mounted to the axle for elevating the ammunition, and a ratchet gear mounted to the axle adjacent to the first flange. The pawl mechanism connects to the first flange and includes a pawl, a toggle and a pin spreader. The toggle pin connects to the pawl and mounts to the spreader. The transfer linkage has a rotatable bar pivotably connected to the second flange, a rod that radially shifts relative to the crank axle in response to the sprockets, and first and second rotatable joints. The first joint connects to the bar to the rod. The second joint connects the rod to the spreader.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Inventors: Robert J. Fowler, IV, Carter G. Timberlake, Michael M. Canaday
  • Patent number: 8245874
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for connecting a door to a container. The door provides and restricts access to a chamber of the container in respective open and closed positions. The mechanism includes, at each corresponding lateral side of the container and the door, a rail mounted to the container, an elbow, and first and second linkage arms. The rail aligns along a fore-and-aft direction so that the elbow slides along that direction. The elbow has vertical and axial members. The axial member connects to the rail. The first linkage arm includes first, second and third joints that pivotably connect respectively to the vertical member, to the container, and to the door. The second linkage arm includes fourth and fifth joints that pivotably connect respectively to the door and to the container. The linkage arms are disposed to avoid lateral obstruction beyond the door in the open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Robert J. Fowler, IV
  • Patent number: 8237588
    Abstract: A stowage magazine is provided for securing a can of ammunition rounds. The magazine includes a frame having lateral sides that define a space for the can; a hinge mechanism connecting to the lateral sides; and a door connecting to the mechanism. The door provides and restricts access to the space in respective open and closed positions. The door is openable along an axial direction to provide an operational surface. The mechanism avoids lateral obstruction beyond the door's surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Robert J. Fowler, IV, Pauline CheneƩ Tillett, Jeffrey M. Pardee