Patents Represented by Attorney James M. Kasischke

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  • Structural section
    Patent number: 7475651
    Abstract: A structural element includes an internal rib and mounting structure having end ribs joined by rails to a plurality of intermediate ribs. A cylindrical skin positioned about the cylindrical rib and mounting structure allows the structure to slide in and out of the skin. A cylindrical male end joint can be a fastening to the end rib of the mounting structure to retain the structure within the skin. Likewise, a female end joint is secured on the other end rib of the structure to complete the structural element. The end joints are sealed against the skin to prevent leakage. The rails can be provided as rail sections joining adjacent ribs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Paul M. Dunn
  • Deployment system and method for subsurface launched unmanned aerial vehicle
    Patent number: 7472866
    Abstract: A launch system in which an unmanned aerial vehicle is secured to a platform in a watertight tube adapted to be launched from a submerged platform. Once launched, side panels on the tube are jettisoned and a flotation device is deployed to bring the tube to the surface. The flotation device maintains the tube in a vertical position when rising to and at the surface. After surfacing, a top-sealing cap of the tube is opened. A lifting mechanism within the tube raises the vertically oriented platform assembly up within the tube. Guide rails maintain the vertical orientation of the assembly during lifting. At the topmost point of travel, the assembly is raised clear of the tube and is disengaged from the guide rails, allowing the assembly to pivot about its attachment to the lifting mechanism and assume an orientation favorable for launching the UAV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Jeremy R. Heaston, David E. Toth
  • Buoyant cable antenna system
    Patent number: 7468703
    Abstract: A buoyant cable system and method is provided with a flexible towed platform that may be deployed into the water from a submerged submarine. The flexible towed platform has a memory that returns to a selected shape after deployment. A presently preferred selected shape may have one or more curves that provide a function during towing. For instance, in one embodiment two oppositely extending curves each float and each are pressed by the water in a balanced manner to provide a stable platform for one or more antennas which can be of different types suitable for a wide band of radio frequency reception/transmission. In another embodiment, a keel may be formed from a weighted curved portion that is suitable for vertically supporting an antenna. The flexible towed material may be constructed of coil springs, shaped memory alloys, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Heidi R. Pickreign, legal representative, Erich M. Gerhard
  • Articulation mechanism and elastomeric nozzle for thrust-vectored control of an undersea vehicle
    Patent number: 7465201
    Abstract: The mechanism of the present invention maneuvers a vehicle by deflecting the flow from a propulsor of the vehicle. The mechanism has an elastomeric nozzle that encases the flow and is deflected via an articulation device mountable inside the vehicle. The nozzle is shaped and supported by spiral-wound composite to maintain a circular cross-section through a range of motion. An end of the nozzle is attached to the shroud of the propulsor and another end is supported by a ring with support struts radiating from a hub. The hub is supported by a shaft attached to a gimbal. The gimbal is constrained in movement by an outer race and an anti-rotation stud in a radial slot in a ball of the gimbal. A linkage as part of an articulation device controls rotation of the gimbal to direct movement of the shaft and enclosed nozzle thereby deflecting flow of the propulsor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Daniel P. Thivierge, Richard E. Dooley, Alberico Menozzi, Allen L. Treaster, Michael J. Beam, Todd K. Fetterolf, Daniel R. Metrey
  • Enhanced sensitivity pressure tolerant fiber optic hydrophone
    Patent number: 7466631
    Abstract: An interferometric hydrophone operable for use in surrounding fluid, includes an outer mandrel having an interior open to the surrounding fluid. A sensing optical fiber is wound on the exterior of the outer mandrel. An inner mandrel is positioned in the interior of the outer mandrel. A chamber defined between the inner mandrel and outer mandrel is in communication with the surrounding fluid. The inner mandrel has a sealed gas filled interior. Compression and expansion of the inner mandrel results in compression and expansion of the outer mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Gregory H. Ames
  • Buoyant cable antenna system and method with articulating blocks
    Patent number: 7466278
    Abstract: A buoyant cable system and method is provided with a towed platform that is flexible for deployment into the water from a submerged submarine. The towed platform has a memory that returns to a selected shape after deployment. In one embodiment the biasing member is a spring acting against and anchored to Kevlar® strands running through the blocks such that the blocks are compressed into a desired shape during operation but remain sufficiently flexible for deployment and retrieval. In another embodiment, a keel may be formed from a weighted curved portion that is suitable for vertically supporting an antenna above the surface of the water to prevent signal interference due to water washing over the towed transmission line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Heidi R. Pickreign, legal representative, Erich M. Gerhard
  • Towline guide clip
    Patent number: 7461610
    Abstract: The invention as disclosed is a towline guide clip, an apparatus that can hold a towline in place as it is dragged behind a large host marine vessel attempting to recover a small marine vessel. The towline guide clip is designed to gradually release the towline when a small marine vessel grabs hold of the line. The additional dragging force of the small marine vessel pulls the towline out of the towline guide clip so that the towline can then be reeled in by a winch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Kurt M. Czepizak, Norman Toplosky, Donald E. Cressman
  • Extraction and rendering techniques for digital charting database
    Patent number: 7463258
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for extracting and rendering data from digital charting databases. The software method integrates and combines bathymetric/topographic data from several sources into a stream of three-dimensional data points, creating a triangle surface mesh, and dividing it into pieces along arbitrary lines to create regularly sized and shaped areas for efficient storing and rendering. The method works by forming an initial triangle mesh of the area and then refining the mesh by incrementally adding each point to the mesh, until a full mesh representation is achieved. The large single file is then broken down into discrete geographic regions, and the region data is converted into a standard file format for viewing and/or processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Todd P. Drury, Douglas B. Maxwell, Richard R. Shell
  • Submarine steam generator missile ejection system
    Patent number: 7451680
    Abstract: A steam generator missile ejection system has a vessel that contains water that becomes the pressurized steam source for missile ejection. A heating system within the vessel heats the water to steam and to the desired launch pressure. The heater is controlled to sequence operation and heat generation with a command from a controller shortly before initiation of a firing valve. A valve controls piping from the vessel to direct steam to a piping header and onto the ejection chamber of a launch tube. This event provides the launch pulse required to eject the payload from the missile tube. The launch energy requirements can be modulated by varying the pre-launch temperature of the water in the pressure vessel and can be controlled by an opening rate and length of open duration of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: John H. Pelto
  • System for determining gas cartridge actuation state
    Patent number: 7445132
    Abstract: A gas cartridge actuation state determination system includes a puncture pin adapted to abut an end of the gas cartridge. A load sensor coupled to and in line with the puncture pin. A spring bears against the load sensor. The spring's force is such that it is insufficient to cause the puncture pin to be driven through the end of the gas cartridge when the end has not been punctured, but is sufficient to cause the puncture pin to be driven through the end of the gas cartridge when the end has already been punctured. In addition, the spring's force is such that it will be approximately zero after the puncture pin has been driven through the end that has already been punctured. A device coupled to the load sensor determines when the spring force is approximately zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Michael W. Williams
  • Method for making under water connector
    Patent number: 7437819
    Abstract: A method for sealing an electrical connector having a transition end and a cable. A protective coating is applied to the transition end of the connector. The connector, transition end and cable are positioned within halves of a mold. An annular resilient seal is positioned about the transition end within the mold. When the mold is filed with castable material the annular resilient seal compresses against the connector, preventing leakage of the castable material along the connector. The mold can then be separated leaving a waterproof boot formed on the transition end of the connector. The invention also provides a mold and sealing means for this process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Rudolph B. Escobedo
  • Wideband floating wire antenna using a double negative meta-material
    Patent number: 7429957
    Abstract: A buoyant cable antenna element is taught that employs a specific double-negative meta-material sheath with a negative permeability. The double-negative meta-material sheath is disposed over the insulated wire portion of the buoyant cable antenna element. The double-negative meta-material sheath enables a deliberate reduction in the antenna wire inductance to a zero value at a desired critical frequency. Reducing the antenna wire inductance to zero creates a traveling wave structure antenna having enhanced bandwidth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: David A. Tonn
  • Apparatus for changing the attack angle of a cavitator on a supercavatating underwater research model
    Patent number: 7428870
    Abstract: An apparatus for changing the angle of attack of a cavitator on a supercavitating underwater research model. The apparatus has a nose assembly that has a pivotable cavitator tilt plate, an actuator member and a drive system engaged with the actuator member to drive the actuator member so as to tilt the cavitator tilt plate to a desired angle. Power components are remotely located and accessible to an operator so as to enable an operator to vary the angle of the cavitator tilt plate while the supercavitating underwater research model is underwater and in motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: The United States America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: William H. Nedderman
  • Noise-riding video signal threshold generation scheme for a plurality of video signal channels
    Patent number: 7427942
    Abstract: An apparatus for adaptively generating video signal thresholds for a comparator circuit having a plurality of signal channels. The apparatus has input circuitry in electrical signal communication with the plurality of signal channels. The input circuitry uses a selector circuit to select one signal channel of the plurality of signal channels for processing. The apparatus also has a processing resource having an input joined to process the electrical signals on the selected one signal channel to determine if a video signal is present and, if no video signal is present, to process noise signals on the selected one signal channel to generate a new video signal threshold. The processing resource has an output to provide the new video signal threshold to the comparator circuit corresponding to the selected signal channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Derek J. Catabia
  • Nonparametric method for detection and identification of regions of concern in multidimensional intensity images
    Patent number: 7426290
    Abstract: A method for detection and identification of regions of concern in multidimensional intensity images using a template and a nonparametric test is presented. Data corresponding to background intensity is extracted from the outer region of the template while data for mass detection is extracted from the inner region. The statistical nature of the background intensity, specifically the tail structure of the unknown distribution, is estimated via tolerance intervals. Mass detection is based on the fraction of test data within the tail structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Fyzodeen Khan, Ashwin Sarma
  • Methods and systems for use of an acoustic doppler current profiler for measurement of compact jets
    Patent number: 7420875
    Abstract: A method is provided for improving horizontal spatial resolution of a flow field in compact jet-like current features so as to quantify the axial velocity in the cross section of a compact jet using an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP). The ADCP is a four-beam, Janus-type ADCP having beams aligned so that each of the beams is at an angle of about 20° to 30° to vertical and at 45° to the fore and aft axis of the vessel, such that two beams point at 45° to forward and two pointing 45° to aft. The measurements from each range bin of the aft-facing beams are combined with the previously measured samples from the corresponding forward-facing beams at the same position along the vessel track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Peter J. Hendricks
  • Pre-positioning deployment system
    Patent number: 7418914
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for pre-positioning a canister assembly at an undersea location. A transporter deploys to and releases the assembly proximate to the desired location. Once the assembly has fallen a safe distance after release, spring bands of the assembly are released by the action of lanyards of the transporter. The release allows anchor plates on each end of the assembly to separate from the assembly thereby dragging the assembly to a seafloor with the assembly buoyant at the undersea location. A vehicle deployment from the assembly is actuated by an acoustic receiver that causes a release device to release a normally compressed spring thereby allowing the spring to expand. During expansion, water is drawn into the assembly through flow ports to force a plunger plate with the water to act on a vehicle to deploy the vehicle out of a deployment tube of the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Michael T. Ansay, Angelo Di Biasio
  • Electromagnetic radiation interface system and method
    Patent number: 7420522
    Abstract: An electromagnetic radiation interface is provided that is suitable for use with radio wave frequencies. A surface is provided with a plurality of metallic conical bristles. A corresponding plurality of termination sections are provided so that each bristle is terminated with a termination section. The termination section may comprise an electrical resistance for capturing substantially all the electromagnetic wave energy received by each respective bristle to thereby prevent reflections from the surface of the interface. Each termination section may also comprise an analog to digital converter for converting the energy from each bristle to a digital word. The bristles may be mounted on a ground plane having a plurality of holes therethrough. A plurality of coaxial transmission lines may extend through the ground plane for interconnecting the plurality of bristles to the plurality of termination sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Donald H. Steinbrecher
  • Method to estimate noise in data
    Patent number: 7415063
    Abstract: A method for estimating uncorrelated noise in a distributed record of data including data samples that represent both signal and noise, provided that the signal is substantially in phase between adjacent data samples. The method begins with dividing the record of data into an even number of equal intervals. The method proceeds compiling a reduced data record by subtracting from every other data sample in the record of data one data sample that is adjacent to it. Finally, the method entails a step of estimating the noise power in the signal relative to the signal power by calculating the standard deviation as a measure of the magnitude of the noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Anthony A. Ruffa
  • Business development process
    Patent number: 7415437
    Abstract: A business development process utilizing a business development database comprises collecting data for ideas from a plurality of sources. One type of collected idea data from said step of collecting is filtered in order to identify potential business opportunities. An opportunity analysis is then performed on said identified potential business opportunities to determine valid business opportunities. Resources are committed to the valid business opportunities, a business proposal is developed. This developed business proposal to a potential buyers. Success of the submission is determined and the business opportunity is executed if the submission is a success.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Ernest A Marvin, III, Brian M. Hodor, Joseph M. Monti