Patents Represented by Attorney Wilfred Grifka
  • Patent number: 4149278
    Abstract: A compact and relatively simple artificial hand, which includes hooks pivotally mounted on a first frame to move together and apart, the first frame being rotatably mounted on a second frame to enable "turning at the wrist" movement without limitation, and the second frame being pivotally mounted on a third frame to permit "flexing at the wrist" movement. A hook-driving motor is fixed to the second frame but has a shaft that drives a speed reducer on the first frame which, in turn, drives the hooks. A second motor mounted on the second frame, turns a gear on the first frame to rotate the first frame and the hooks thereon. A third motor mounted on the third frame, turns a gear on a second frame to pivot it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1979
    Inventors: Robert A. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with respect to an invention of Frosch, Gordon A. Wiker, Wolfgang A. Mann
  • Patent number: 4148375
    Abstract: A system for vibrating the earth in a location where seismic mapping is to take place, including forming a relatively shallow hole in the earth such as a hole 10 feet deep, placing a solid propellant in the hole, sealing a portion of the hole above the solid propellant with a device that can rapidly open and close to allow a repeatedly interrupted escape of gas, and igniting the propellant so that high pressure gas is created which escapes in pulses to vibrate the earth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1979
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Warren L. Dowler, Giulio Varsi, Lien C. Yang
  • Patent number: 4141219
    Abstract: A turbine including a plurality of nozzles for delivering streams of a two-phase fluid along linear paths, a phase separator for responsively separating the vapor and liquid characterized by concentrically related annuli supported for rotation within the paths and having endless channels for confining the liquid under the influence of centrifugal forces, a vapor turbine fan for extracting kinetic energy from the vapor, and a liquid turbine blade for extracting kinetic energy from the liquid whereby angular momentum of both the liquid phase and the vapor phase of the fluid is converted to torque.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1979
    Inventors: Robert A. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with respect to the invention of Frosch, David G. Elliott
  • Patent number: 4139291
    Abstract: A system for use in Schlieren photography including a large grating, a viewing screen adjacently related to the large grating, a small grating disposed in spaced relation with the large grating, a transparent retainer for confining a transparent medium between the gratings, and optics for imaging the small grating on the large grating including a light source and optically aligned lens for projecting a beam of light along axes extending through the small grating and striking the large grating, subsequent to passing through the medium for thus forming on the screen a Schlieren image of striations resulting from distortions of light rays produced by the medium, and a camera for photographing the Schlieren image projected on the large screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1979
    Inventors: Robert A. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with respect to an invention of Frosch, Shakkottai P. Parthasarathy
  • Patent number: 4139806
    Abstract: Sound waves are utilized to apply torque to a body in an enclosure of square cross section, by driving two transducers located on perpendicular walls of an enclosure, at the same frequency but at a predetermined phase difference such as 90.degree.. The torque is a first order effect, so that large and controlled rotational speeds can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1979
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator National Aeronautics & Space Administration
    Inventors: Hilda Kanber, Isadore Rudnick, Taylor G. Wang
  • Patent number: 4135367
    Abstract: For use in combination with a heat engine, a thermal energy transformer comprising a flux receiver having a first wall defining therein a radiation absorption cavity for converting solar flux to thermal energy characterized by a first wall defining a radiation absorption cavity having a solar flux entry aperture, and a second wall defining an energy transfer wall for the heat engine, and a heat pipe chamber interposed between the first and second walls having a working fluid disposed within the chamber and a wick lining the chamber for conducting the working fluid from the second wall to the first wall, whereby thermal energy is transferred from the radiation absorption cavity to the heat engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1979
    Inventors: Robert A. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with respect to an invention of Frosch, C. Martin Berdahl, Carl L. Thiele
  • Patent number: 4134786
    Abstract: A method and means for purifying the waste water from paper and pulp mill wastes obtained from a mill using the Kraft process by first precipitating lignins and lignin derivatives from the waste stream with quaternary ammonium compounds, removing other impurities by activated carbon produced from the cellulosic components of the water, and thereafter separating water from the precipitate and solids. The activated carbon also acts as an aid to the separation of the water and solids. If recovery of lignins is also desired, then the precipitate containing the lignins and quaternary ammonium compound is dissolved in methanol. Upon acidification, the lignin is precipitated from the solution. The methanol and quaternary ammonium compound are recovered for reuse from the remainder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1979
    Inventors: James C. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with respect to an invention of Fletcher, Marshall F. Humphrey
  • Patent number: 4133697
    Abstract: Providing printed circuitry in a sandwiched relation with a pair of flexible layers of non-conductive material, depositing solder pads on the printed circuitry and storing the resulting substrate on a drum, withdrawing the substrate from the drum and incrementally advancing it along a linear path, serially transporting solderless solar cells into engagement with the pads and thereafter heating the pads for thus attaching the cells to the circuitry, cleaning excess flux from the solar cells, encapsulating the cells in a protective coating and thereafter spirally winding the resulting array on a drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1979
    Inventors: Robert A. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with respect to an invention of Frosch, Robert L. Mueller, Robert K. Yasui
  • Patent number: 4132594
    Abstract: It has been found that the shelf life of stored whole blood may be doubled by adding a buffer which maintains a desired pH level. However, this buffer causes the generation of CO.sub.2 which, if not removed at a controlled rate, causes the pH value of the blood to decrease, which shortens the useful life of the blood. This invention provides a blood storage bag which permits the CO.sub.2 to be diffused out at a controlled rate into the atmosphere, thereby maintaining the desired pH value while providing a bag strong enough to permit handling thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1979
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Herman Bank, Edward L. Cleland
  • Patent number: 4131459
    Abstract: Cermet compositions having high temperature oxidation resistance, high hardness and high abrasion and wear resistance, and particularly adapted for production of high temperature resistant cermet insulator bodies, comprising a sintered body of particles of a high temperature resistant metal or metal alloy, preferably molybdenum or tungsten particles, dispersed in and bonded to a solid solution formed of aluminum oxide and silicon nitride, and particularly a ternary solid solution formed of a mixture of aluminum oxide, silicon nitride and aluminum nitride. Also disclosed are novel ceramic compositions comprising a sintered solid solution of aluminum oxide, silicon nitride and aluminum nitride.The cermet compositions are designed particularly to provide high temperature resistant refractory coatings on metal substrates, preferably molybdenum or tungsten substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1978
    Inventors: James C. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with respect to an invention of Fletcher, Wayne M. Phillips
  • Patent number: 4131336
    Abstract: A fixed, linear, ground-based primary reflector having an extended curved sawtooth-contoured surface covered with a metalized polymeric reflecting material, reflects solar energy to a movably supported collector that is kept at the concentrated line focus of the reflector primary. The primary reflector may be constructed by a process utilizing well-known freeway paving machinery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1978
    Inventors: Robert A. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with respect to an invention of Frosch, Charles G. Miller, James B. Stephens
  • Patent number: 4130112
    Abstract: Apparatus for the ultrasonic scanning of a breast or other tissue, including a cavity for receiving the breast, a vacuum for drawing the breast into intimate contact with the walls of the cavity, and transducers coupled through a fluid to the cavity to transmit sound waves through the breast. Each transducer lies at the end of a tapered chamber which has flexible walls and which is filled with fluid, so that the transducer can be moved in a raster pattern while the chamber walls flex accordingly, with sound transmission always occurring through the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1978
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Robert E. Frazer
  • Patent number: 4130032
    Abstract: A wrench usable where limited access normally requires an open-end wrench, but which has substantially the high-torque capacity and small radial clearance characteristics of a closed-end wrench. The wrench includes a sleeve forming a nut-engageable socket with a gap in its side, and an adaptor forming a socket with a gap in its side, the adaptor closely surrounding the sleeve and extending across the gap in the sleeve. The sleeve and adaptor have surfaces that become fully engaged when a wrench handle is applied to the adaptor to turn it so as to tighten a nut engaged by the sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1978
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Anthony Giandomenico, James M. Dame, Harold Behimer
  • Patent number: 4122833
    Abstract: A solar energy collector system characterized by an improved concentrator for directing incident rays of solar energy on parallel strip-like segments of a flat-plate receiver and a plurality of individually mounted reflector modules of a common asymmetrical triangular cross-sectional configuration supported for independent reorientation and defining a plurality of asymmetric vee-trough concentrators for deflecting incident solar energy toward the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1978
    Inventors: Alan M. Acting Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with respect to an invention of Lovelace, M. Kudret Selcuk
  • Patent number: 4122816
    Abstract: An igniter for the air/fuel mixture used in the cylinders of an internal combustion engine employs a conventional spark to initiate the discharge of a large amount of energy stored in a capacitor. A high current discharge of the energy in the capacitor switched on by a spark discharge produces a plasma and a magnetic field. The resultant combined electromagnetic current and magnetic field force accelerates the plasma deep into the combustion chamber thereby providing an improved ignition of the air/fuel mixture in the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1978
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Dennis J. Fitzgerald, Robert R. Breshears
  • Patent number: 4121995
    Abstract: A slurry of carbonaceous particles such as coal containing an oil soluble polar substituted oleophilic surfactant, suitably an amine substituted long chain hydrocarbon, is liquefied at high temperature and high hydrogen presence. The pressure of surfactant results in an increase in yield and the conversion product contains a higher proportion of light and heavy oils and less asphaltene than products from other liquefaction processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1978
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: George C. Hsu
  • Patent number: 4121965
    Abstract: The orientation of twinning and other effects in silicon crystal ribbon growth is controlled by use of a starting seed crystal having a specific {110} crystallographic plane and <112> crystallographic growth direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1978
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics & Space Administration
    Inventor: Martin H. Leipold
  • Patent number: 4118666
    Abstract: A system for automatic monitoring of a communication signal in the RF or IF spectrum utilizes a superheterodyne receiver technique with a VCO to select and sweep the frequency band of interest. A first memory is used to store one band sweep as a reference for continual comparison with subsequent band sweeps. Any deviation of a subsequent band sweep by more than a predetermined tolerance level produces an alarm signal which causes the band sweep data temporarily stored in one of two buffer memories to be transferred to long-term store while the other buffer memory is switched to its store mode to assume the task of temporarily storing subsequent band sweeps. Each alarm signal alternates the roles of the two buffer memories. In a second embodiment, the roles of the two buffer memories are switched at the end of each heterodyne receiver band sweep for display of successive band sweeps at a faster rate and for automatic long-term store of any band sweep producing an alarm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1978
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Albert J. Bernstein
  • Patent number: 4118014
    Abstract: An improved vehicular impact absorption system characterized by a plurality of aligned crash cushions of substantially cubic configuration, each consisting of a plurality of voided aluminum beverage cans arranged in substantial parallelism within a plurality of superimposed tiers and a covering envelope formed of metal hardware cloth, and a plurality of cables extended through the cushions in substantial parallelism with an axis of alignment for the cushions adapted to be anchored at each of the opposite ends thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1978
    Inventors: Robert A. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with respect to an invention of Frosch, Albert C. Knoell, Abraham H. Wilson
  • Patent number: 4116131
    Abstract: A case bonded end burning solid propellant rocket motor utilizing a propellant having sufficiently low modulus to avoid chamber buckling on cooling from cure and sufficiently high elongation to sustain the stresses induced without cracking, the propellant being zone cured within the motor case at high pressures equal to or approaching the pressure at which the motor will operate during combustion. A solid propellant motor having a burning time long enough that its spacecraft would be limited to a maximum acceleration of less than 1 g is provided by one version of the case bonded end burning solid propellant motor of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1970
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1978
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: John I. Shafer, Harold E. Marsh, Jr.