Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Steven E. Kahm
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Patent number: 5809187Abstract: This invention relates to fiber optic networks for the two way communication of light signals. One optic fiber may carry bidirectional signals to many nodes connected to the optic fiber by bidirectional passive optic couplers. Passive unidirectional to bidirectional passive optic couplers can bridge between bidirectional optic fiber networks and unidirectional fiber optic networks. Thus optical signals can be transported to and from each node to all other nodes such that each node is in contact with all the other nodes on the network.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 1997Date of Patent: September 15, 1998Assignee: Boeing North American, Inc.Inventors: James L. Peck, Jr., Stephen W. Clausi
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Patent number: 5761357Abstract: An optical coupler for use in fiber optics for splitting light signals into two or more portions wherein the intensity of the light on the outgoing optical fibers can be accurately controlled. The optical coupler consists of a sending GRIN lens and two or more adjacent receiving GRIN lenses wherein a portion of each receiving GRIN lens has been removed and the receiving GRIN lenses are attached along a common border formed by the removed portion of the GRIN lenses.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 1997Date of Patent: June 2, 1998Assignee: Boeing North American, Inc.Inventor: James L. Peck, Jr.
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Patent number: 5735469Abstract: A compact diffuser for recovering pressure from a supersonic flow with boundary layers. Sharp splicer plates near the wails form boundary layer scoops and separate the flow into an inner coreflow chapel and outer chambers containing small supersonic ejector nobles. The coreflow without boundary layers undergoes a single near-normal shock to recover pressure. The boundary layers are pumped to the recovery pressure in the outer ejector chambers. The subsonic part of the boundary layer flow to the outer chambers can be choked against boundary layer scoop inlet corners to isolate the upstream flow. The leading edge angle of the splicers may be selected to help induce coreflow shocking.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 1996Date of Patent: April 7, 1998Assignee: Boeing North American, Inc.Inventors: Sergio E. Rodriguez, James P. Maddox, Raymond J. Netzer, Alan Z. Ullman
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Patent number: 5721634Abstract: A family of cesium-germanium halide salts have utility as nonlinear optical crystals in applications including electro-optics and optical frequency conversion. These salts have the general formula CsGeCl.sub.x Br.sub.y I.sub.z, in which x, y, and z equal 0 through 3, inclusive, and where x+y+z=3. In contrast to well-known oxygen-containing materials, such as LiNbO.sub.3, these cesium-germanium halide salts exhibit optical nonlinearity with an extremely wide transparency range (without significant absorption) at wavelengths from about 0.4 .mu.m to greater than 25 .mu.m (covering the entire MWIR and LWIR regions). Based on Ge.sup.2+ ions, these halides have non-centrosymmetric perovskite structures. The halide ions form a strongly coordinating octahedral environment about the Ge.sup.2+ ions and resist migration in an electric field. The Ge2+ ions, however, are shifted slightly off center in the tetragonal phase, leading to a net electric dipole moment in each unit cell.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 1996Date of Patent: February 24, 1998Assignee: Boeing North American, Inc.Inventors: Mark J. Rosker, Patricia H. Cunningham, Mark D. Ewbank, Peter Gunter
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Patent number: 5713507Abstract: A variable pin length stir friction welding method wherein the stir friction welding pin penetrates the workpiece as the workpiece translates. The stir friction welding pin starting at a zero penetration and extending to the depth needed to repair a weld or to make a weld. Then withdrawing the pin to zero penetration as the work is translated. The weld path is thus ramped into and out of the workpiece leaving no holes which need to be repaired. Circumferential welds can be made by keeping the pin extended to the welding depth for at least one complete revolution of the weld.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 1996Date of Patent: February 3, 1998Assignee: Rockwell International CorporationInventors: Elmo S. Holt, Lawrence J. Lang
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Patent number: 5701670Abstract: A method of fabricating a rocket engine combustion chamber comprising assembling a liner having cooling channels, a plurality of throat support sections, and a structural jacket having inlet and outlet manifolds. Then heating the assembly in a pressurized furnace to bond the assembled parts to each other.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 1994Date of Patent: December 30, 1997Assignee: Boeing North American, Inc.Inventors: Steven C. Fisher, Theodore C. Adams, Maynard L. Stangeland, Jacob Rietdyk, Paul R. Winans
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Patent number: 5697511Abstract: In the construction of cylindrical tanks having end domes wherein the domes are attached by stir friction welding, a wagon wheel is placed inside the tank at the interface of the tank cylinder and the dome such that it provides backup support for the pressure exerted by the stir friction welding tool and strengthens the weld area and the tank by being welded into the tank by the stir friction welding process.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 1996Date of Patent: December 16, 1997Assignee: Boeing North American, Inc.Inventor: Clifford C. Bampton
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Patent number: 5697767Abstract: A turbopump assembly comprises first pump section housing, a second pump section housing, and a common rotatable shaft positioned within said housings which further define First and second pump sections. The housings and rotatable shaft also define internal manifolds selectably positioned in the first pump section and second pump section whereby said first pump section, second pump, and internal manifolds form an integrated turbine and dual pump configuration.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 1994Date of Patent: December 16, 1997Assignee: Boeing North American, Inc.Inventors: William R. Bissell, Maynard L. Stangeland
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Patent number: 5697478Abstract: The sacrificial tube shock attenuation device services as a deformable energy absorbing system designed to be employed between a bumper receiving a potentially destructive force and a payload which is to be protected from the force. The device is composed of a tube assembly running through and aligning apertures of a maul, or series of mauls, which is (are) attached to the bumper and the apertures of a pair of stators, or multiple pairs of stators, that each maul is situated between. The stators are attached to the payload. When overloaded the maul(s) moves relative to the stators causing a misalignment of their respective apertures resulting in deformation of the tube assembly. A simple tube assembly may be comprised of a single tube. A more complex tube assembly may be comprised of multiple tubes within tubes depending on the anticipated overload. In a multi-tube assembly the inner tubes receive the load consecutively as the misalignment of the apertures of the maul and stators progresses.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 1996Date of Patent: December 16, 1997Assignee: Boeing North American, Inc.Inventor: Frank J. Di Stefano
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Patent number: 5697849Abstract: The axially stiff link provides a rigid connection linking two shaft segments (1, 2) of a shaft such that it can bend and or twist yet remain rigid with no slop for high tolerance positioning applications. The link is composed of two rolling elements (4) attached to the shaft segments (1, 2) having a rolling line contact (10) with each other. The rolling elements (4) are held together and preloaded by a ring spring (6) which encircles a portion of the rolling element extending transversely from the shaft segment and engages it by rolling line contact (8). The rolling elements may be solid plain curved portions of the shaft ends, a cylindrical bar, cylindrical bar pairs, or conical pairs to provide for torsional as well as axial bending in the link. Closely spaced perpendicularly disposed axial links provide for 2 axis bending of the shaft.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 1995Date of Patent: December 16, 1997Assignee: Boeing North American, Inc.Inventor: Gordon W. Culp
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Patent number: 5697544Abstract: A stir friction welding tool with a variable length pin relative to the shank of the tool is disclosed. The pin is moveable from a totally retracted position relative to the shank such that the shank may engage a workpiece without the pin engaging the workpiece. The pin then may be slowly extended into the work piece. The stir friction welding tool may also have a variable diameter shank to provide a variable volume cavity. Then as the pin is extended further into the workpiece the variable width shank can expand to increase the circumference of the shoulder and the volume of the cavity in the shank such that the pin length to cavity volume are within a range to insure a good surface material flow and a high weld quality using the stir friction welding process.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 1996Date of Patent: December 16, 1997Assignee: Boeing North American, Inc.Inventor: Donald H. Wykes
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Patent number: 5693267Abstract: This invention provides a means of achieving the close control of iodine flow rate, temperature of the resulting combined gaseous mixture of iodine in diluent gas, as well as the rapid start and stop response time needed for full-scale laser operation. It comprises an iodine charge stored as a solid and is heated to converted the iodine to a liquid, a means to heat the iodine under pressure to extend the liquid temperature range of iodine, an atomizer for complete vaporization of the iodine, a helium iodine mixer to provide heat for iodine vaporization purporting iodine to helium proportion mass ratio and provides for complete mixing and a flow control system which controls the low iodine flow rates accurately.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 1996Date of Patent: December 2, 1997Assignee: Boeing North American, Inc.Inventors: David G. Beshore, Alan Z. Ullman
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Patent number: 5660644Abstract: A light weight photovoltaic concentrator having a foldable, easily deployed structure for concentrating solar rays on solar cells for generating electricity is disclosed. The photovoltaic concentrator features a concentrator which can be inflated, for ease of deployment, to a shape for reflecting sunlight onto solar cells. The solar cells are protected from overheating by a protective infrared coating and by being attached to a heat pipe with a fin for radiating excess heat. The inflatable concentrator is inflated by gas stored in the central arm which supports one end of the concentrator. The concentrator is inflated until the epicenters of the front and rear surfaces reach a specified distance and the concentrator is thereafter maintained at this position by addition of additional gas as needed to compensate for leakage. The concentrator may have a means of stiffening the inflated reflective surface by chemical changes activated after the concentrator is deployed.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 1995Date of Patent: August 26, 1997Assignee: Rockwell International CorporationInventor: Donald D. Clemens
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Patent number: 5644920Abstract: Super cooling the cryogenic liquid propellant in a vehicle propellant tank densities the propellant allowing the vehicle propellant tank to carry more fuel in the same volume tank while lowering the vapor pressure and thus the tank operating pressure. Lowering the tank operating pressure reduces the stress and therefore allows the walls of the tank to be thinner. Both the smaller tank volume and thinner tank wall results in an overall smaller and lighter vehicle with increased payload capability. The cryogenic propellant can be supercooled well below the normal boiling point temperature level by transporting the liquid propellant from the vehicle tanks to a ground based cooling unit which utilizes a combination of heat exchanger and compressor. The compressor lowers the coolant fluid bath pressure resulting in a low temperature boiling liquid which is subsequently used to cool the recirculating liquid. The cooled propellant is then returned to the vehicle propellant tank.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 1995Date of Patent: July 8, 1997Assignee: Rockwell International CorporationInventors: Tibor I. Lak, Steve P. Petrilla, Martin E. Lozano
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Patent number: 5631737Abstract: A high-energy laser 10 comprising a ring of lesser-powered laser modules 12,14,16 from each of which an output is taken to be projected so that they all arrive in phase on a distant target. To phase-lock the outputs of all the serial laser modules, the path lengths (l) of the laser modules are made equal, the path length around the large loop which includes all the laser modules is made an integral multiple of the laser-module path length, and at least two different feedback loops are employed.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 1984Date of Patent: May 20, 1997Assignee: Rockwell International CorporationInventor: Frederic H. White, III
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Patent number: 5627541Abstract: An attenuator of electromagnetic radiation, such as radar, is described wherein a single attenuator sheet in the nature of "spacecloth" is placed in front of a plurality of reflective layers wherein each of the reflective layers is tuned to reflect a narrow band of radiation of a selected frequency and transmit other frequencies; and each of the reflective layers is spaced from the attenuation layer at a distance of one-fourth of the wavelength of electromagnetic radiation to which it is tuned. In a preferred embodiment each of the reflective layers comprises elongated narrow conductive areas arranged in spaced apart columns and rows in a generally non-conductive area.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 1968Date of Patent: May 6, 1997Assignee: Rockwell International CorporationInventors: Donald D. Haley, Louis Maus
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Patent number: 5623341Abstract: A method for monitoring a surface is provided. Nonlinear second order surface spectroscopy is used to monitor the condition of a surface. Conditions such as corrosion, contamination and deposition may be monitored. According to the present invention, electromagnetic radiation is directed towards the surface and the second harmonic or other second order frequency responses are monitored to detect the state of the surface. Preferably, a laser, input optics and output optics are utilized to create the second order frequency response that is detected.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 1994Date of Patent: April 22, 1997Assignee: Rockwell International CorporationInventor: Jeffrey H. Hunt
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Patent number: 5611479Abstract: A method for ensuring complete penetration of a friction stir weld using a rotating pin friction stir welding tool comprising chamfering the bottom of the plates to be welded along the faying edges. Placing the plates on a back up plate. Inserting the pin friction stir welding tool into the plates to the depth of the chamfer and translating it along the faying surface to plasticize the material in the plates. The plasticized material will flow into the volume defined by of the chamfer at the bottom of the plates and the back up plate. A visual inspection will show if the weld penetrated fully through the plates if the chamfered volume is filled with material which flowed in while plasticized.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 1996Date of Patent: March 18, 1997Assignee: Rockwell International CorporationInventor: Charles D. Rosen
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Patent number: 5575423Abstract: A tube nozzle having a thermal insulative barrier in it to prevent thermal fatigue cracks due to thermal transients in tube nozzles for all kinds of pipe joints that carry fluids with temperatures that change rapidly. This is particularly useful in mixing tees, where two different temperature fluids meet. The use of this invention could increase safety and reliability of processing streams in processing plants involving fluids maintained at various constant or fluctuating temperatures.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 1994Date of Patent: November 19, 1996Assignee: Rockwell International CorporationInventor: Jim L. Yuen
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Patent number: 5573609Abstract: A method for the densification of a shaped nickel base single crystal alloy article utilizing a pre-HIP, a hot isostatic pressing (HIP) step, and post-HIP solution heat treatment to enhance removal of casting porosity in a finished article.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 1987Date of Patent: November 12, 1996Assignee: Rockwell International CorporationInventor: Leslie G. Fritzemeier