Patents Represented by Attorney L. Lee Humphries
  • Patent number: 4161104
    Abstract: In a gas generator system, a process for producing gases from hydrazine type monopropellants by the ignition of said propellants by silver nitrate or a mixture of silver nitrate with copper chromite for the decomposition of said propellants to their gaseous end products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1968
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1979
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Ladacki
  • Patent number: 4160218
    Abstract: A detector array generates a profile of the intensity of a laser beam, across the beam and in the direction of fluid flow in order to detect the spatial distribution of the laser gain. Control actions such as modifying the flow of diluent into the laser cavity is instituted to shift the beam zero-gain point out of the laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1979
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventor: Frederic H. White, III
  • Patent number: 4158312
    Abstract: A gyro system employing the pickoff synchros as erection sensors and as torquers to erect the gyro.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1977
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1979
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventors: Gordon R. Fabian, Leo P. Kammerer, Lynn F. Maxedon
  • Patent number: 4157497
    Abstract: Semi-insulating GaAs material is qualified for ion implantation by taking a sample or samples from the material to be evaluated, polishing a surface of the sample, and chemically etching the surface to remove mechanical damage. The surface is bombarded with ions of an inert gas such as krypton, helium, argon, neon, or xenon. After bombardment, the sample is annealed and the sheet resistance is measured to determine if it meets a predetermined acceptable value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1979
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventors: Fred H. Eisen, Ricardo Zucca, Bryant Welch
  • Patent number: 4156230
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the smoothing and singularity detection of the ridge contour data of a fingerprint image for classification in an automatic fingerprint identification system. A template scanning window is passed electronically over a digital matrix of ridge contour data to generate a set of correlation values corresponding to each contour data element and to a plurality of reference angle vectors. The correlation values are processed for determination of peaks and valleys. Tests are conducted to determine whether the relative values of peaks and valleys and the relative spacing between peaks and valleys satisfy certain threshold criteria for reliable extraction of fingerprint singularity points for classification. The resultant data, representing the number of correlation peaks and the direction of each, defines the location and angular orientation of cores and deltas of a fingerprint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1979
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventors: John P. Riganati, Richard D. Capello, Gerald D. Brown, Norman L. Bolton, Alexander Csiszer
  • Patent number: 4153900
    Abstract: In a binary phase-coded pulse compression type pulsed energy system, means for synchronously transmitting two separately binary coded signals, the code for each signal having an autocorrelation function exhibiting a maximum synchronously occurring with that of the other coded signal, the two autocorrelation functions, when combined, being mutually cancelling except at the synchronous occurrence of the maxima of the autocorrelation functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1967
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1979
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventors: Leslie M. Novak, Leslie Yen
  • Patent number: 4153670
    Abstract: A method of treating an aqueous alkali metal sulfide-containing liquor to remove the sulfur values therefrom. Broadly, the method comprises introducing an alkaline liquor containing an alkali metal sulfide into a neutralization zone where it is intimately contacted and reacted with a sufficient amount of a gas containing a major amount of H.sub.2 S and a minor amount of CO.sub.2 to produce a product liquor of reduced alkalinity consisting essentially of a slurry of alkali metal bicarbonate and alkali metal bisulfide. The product liquor is withdrawn from the neutralization zone and introduced into a carbonation zone where it is contacted with a sufficient amount of a CO.sub.2 -containing gas to produce a product stream comprising a slurry of alkali metal bicarbonate crystals substantially free of alkali metal bisulfide and an H.sub.2 S-rich product gas containing a minor amount of CO.sub.2. The H.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 8, 1979
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventor: Robert D. Rennick
  • Patent number: 4152406
    Abstract: Improved NF.sub.4.sup.+ compositions for solid propellant NF.sub.3 -F.sub.2 gas generators are described which produce NF.sub.3 and F.sub.2 free of gaseous Lewis acids and do not require clinker forming additives for their complexing. The novel self-clinkering compositions (NF.sub.4).sub.2 SnF.sub.6, NF.sub.4 SnF.sub.5, (NF.sub.4).sub.2 TiF.sub.6, NF.sub.4 Ti.sub.2 F.sub.9, NF.sub.4 Ti.sub.3 F.sub.13, and NF.sub.4 Ti.sub.6 F.sub.25 and processes for their production are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1979
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventors: Karl O. Christe, Carl J. Schack, Richard D. Wilson
  • Patent number: 4152592
    Abstract: A water washable substantially biodegradable dye penetrant composition having excellent sensitivity and high stability, for use in non-destructive testing of objects to locate voids and defects therein, said composition consisting essentially of an organic dye, preferably a fluorescent dye, and a carrier or solvent for said dye, in the form of certain ethoxylated linear alcohols, particularly the biodegradable nonionic surfactants comprised of ethoxylates of a mixture of secondary alcohols having linear alkyl chains of from 10 to 17 carbon atoms. In the method of application of the dye penetrant compositions, such composition is applied to the surface of an object containing cracks and flaws, water is applied to the surface of the object to remove excess liquid dye penetrant composition from the surface without removing such penetrant from the cracks and defects, and with or without a developer, the surface of the object is viewed under suitable lighting conditions, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1975
    Date of Patent: May 1, 1979
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventor: Orlando G. Molina
  • Patent number: 4151512
    Abstract: An automatic system is described wherein pattern representations of epidermal ridges, such as fingerprints, are uniquely described by the extraction of specific information. Specific information such as ridge contour data, describing the ridge flow in the fingerprint pattern and minutiae data, principally describing ridge endings and bifurcations, are identified and extracted from the fingerprint pattern. Topological data, identifying singularity points such as tri-radii and cores, as well as ridge flow line tracings related to those points are extracted from the ridge contour data. The extracted information is then utilized by the system to automatically perform classification of the fingerprint pattern and/or matching of the fingerprint pattern with patterns stored in a mass file. Identification is automatically achieved by comparing the extracted information with the information stored in the mass file corresponding to previously identified fingerprint patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1976
    Date of Patent: April 24, 1979
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventors: John P. Riganati, Visvaldis A. Vitols
  • Patent number: 4147731
    Abstract: A method of isolating nitroform from a solution of nitric acid, nitroform, and water by adding sulfuric acid and preferentially extracting the nitroform with methylene chloride. The nitroform is then extracted from the methylene chloride solution into water. It is a particular advantage of the present method that no distillations involving nitroform are required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1979
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventors: Milton B. Frankel, Frederick D. Raniere, Wallace W. Thompson, Edward F. Witucki, Dean O. Woolery, II
  • Patent number: 4146057
    Abstract: A quantity of aluminum is in heat exchange contact with a potassium loop and a steam/water loop. The potassium loop includes a solar energy collector and the solar-heated potassium melts the aluminum to store thermal energy as latent heat of fusion. The steam/water loop extracts steam at 1,000.degree. F. as long as at least some of the aluminum is in the molten state. The steam/water loop includes a steam power turbogenerator unit as user; the quantity of aluminum should suffice to yield, upon resolidification, sufficient heat to satisfy the energy demand of the unit during night time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1979
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Friedman, Jerome M. Friefeld
  • Patent number: 4145806
    Abstract: A method of assembling a lithium alloy/molten salt/metal chalocogenide, high-energy density electrochemical device. Broadly, the method comprises providing a negative electrode structure in intimate contact with an electrolyte, which is conductive at elevated temperatures. There also is provided in contact with the electrolyte a positive electrode structure which includes a current-collecting substrate containing a sulfur and oxygen compound of at least one alkali metal in intimate admixture with a particulate metal. An electric current is passed from one electrode to the other to cause such device to be in a desired state of elecrochemical charge, whereby when said device is in a charged state a negative electrode active material comprises an alkali metal alloy and the positive electrode active material comprises a mixture of oxides and sulfides of the particulate metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1979
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventor: San-Cheng Lai
  • Patent number: 4145396
    Abstract: An organic waste containing at least one element selected from the group consisting of strontium, cesium, iodine and ruthenium is treated to achieve a substantial reduction in the volume of the waste and provide for fixation of the selected element in an inert salt. The method of treatment comprises introducing the organic waste and a source of oxygen into a molten salt bath maintained at an elevated temperature to produce solid and gaseous reaction products. The gaseous reaction products comprise carbon dioxide and water vapor, and the solid reaction products comprise the inorganic ash constituents of the organic waste and the selected element which is retained in the molten salt. The molten salt bath comprises one or more alkali metal carbonates, and may optionally include from 1 to about 25 wt.% of an alkali metal sulfate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1979
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventor: LeRoy F. Grantham
  • Patent number: 4143285
    Abstract: A device for correcting charge-transfer inefficiency-induced distortion in charge-transfer-device analog shift registers. The shift register successively samples a data line of interest, a voltage reference source and a null input. A preselectively modeled filter, having a gain control input, cancels the "tail" or terminal data smear induced by the charge-coupled device, the gain of which filter is adjusted during response of the charge-coupled device to a sampled null input. Additional compensation of the shift register output is also provided for gain changes thereof and bias content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1979
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventor: Stanley A. White
  • Patent number: 4141768
    Abstract: A fuel-rich solid propellant gas generator is provided containing about 50 to 70% by weight of a boron fuel and about 30 to 50% by weight of an energetic binder containing a polymer of a dinitrofluoromethyl epoxide of the formula ##STR1## wherein R is alkylene of 1 to 4 carbon atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1970
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1979
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventors: George A. Lo, Charles L. Hamermesh
  • Patent number: 4141910
    Abstract: Organic azide compounds containing other energetic moieties such as fluorodinitro, trinitromethyl, nitramino, and gem-difluoroamino.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1979
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph E. Flanagan, Milton B. Frankel, Edward F. Witucki
  • Patent number: 4137530
    Abstract: A digital radar including (i) a digital memory whose stored array of digital words represents radar searched space and (ii) display smoothing apparatus receiving the memory data and quadrupling the number of digital words available for display. Typical of the preferred embodiment, a four digital word group comprising W.sub.a, W.sub.b, W.sub.c, and W.sub.d, and representing four mutually contiguous searched space segments is used to produce the average of W.sub.a and W.sub.b, the average of W.sub.a and W.sub.c, and the average of all four in the group. The averages and the memory words are painted on a display in their appropriate locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1979
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventor: Marvin L. Hooker, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4136287
    Abstract: A device for correcting charge-transfer inefficiency-induced distortion in charge-transfer-device analog shift registers. The shift register successively samples a data line of interest, a voltage reference source and a null input. A variable time-delayed, synchronous inverter provides a-c coupling of the register so as to avoid bias content effects, and cancels the "tail" or terminal data smear induced by the charge-coupled device, the delay or phase of which inverter is adjusted during response of the charge-coupled device to a sampled null input. Additional compensation of the shift register output is also provided for gain changes thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1979
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventors: Gerald W. Kephart, Stanley A. White
  • Patent number: 4135147
    Abstract: A system which, in one exemplary embodiment, comprises first means responsive to minutiae of first and second fingerprints for selectively generating a plurality of neighborhood comparison signals indicative of the closeness of match and coordinate displacements between minutiae neighborhoods of the first and second fingerprints, and second means responsive to the neighborhood comparison signals for developing an output signal indicative of the relative closeness of match of the first and second fingerprints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1979
    Assignee: Rockwell International Corporation
    Inventors: John P. Riganati, Visvaldis A. Vitols