Patents Assigned to British Aerospace Public Limited Company
  • Optical sensor for determining changes in a dimension and/or a temperature of an object
    Patent number: 5009505
    Abstract: A sensor comprises a resonator loop formed of polarization-maintaining, high birefringent optical fibre. Changes in the optical path lengths of each of the "fast" and "slow" optical paths in the loop are measured and processed to determine the strain and temperature change experienced by said fibre loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1991
    Assignee: British Aerospace Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Alan R. Malvern
  • High voltage switch assembly
    Patent number: 5006679
    Abstract: A high voltage switch assembly includes a pair of electrically conductive contacts (2, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e) connectible in a power line from a high voltage source, and a portion of solid electrically insulating exposive material (3) forming an electrically insulating barrier extending between the contacts (2, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e). On detonation of the explosive material at a point removed from the contacts a detonation wave is propagated from the detonation point through the explosive material (3), which as it passes between the contacts (2, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e) establishes electrical conduction therebetween to initiate a switch closing action, the gaseous products of detonation following behind the detonation wave being electrically insulating and breaking electrical conduction between the contacts (2, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e) to initiate a switch opening action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Assignee: British Aerospace Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Edward Thornton
  • Sensor system
    Patent number: 5001985
    Abstract: A sensor system for a weapon, the sensor system comprising at least two light detectors having different fields of view and control means responsive to signals from the light detectors to calculate an appropriate time delay to firing of the weapon and to cause activation of the weapon firing system accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Assignee: British Aerospace Public Limited Company
    Inventors: John P. Reid, Stephen J. Clarke, David G. Young
  • Multiple waveband optical element
    Patent number: 5000527
    Abstract: A multiple-waveband, e.g., for the infra-red and millimetric RF wavebands, optical element such as a window includes a core element and respective separately made outer elements secured to the core and having thicknesses and dielectric constants adapted to give anti-reflection characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Assignee: British Aerospace Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Colin Freeland
  • Communications jammer
    Patent number: 5001771
    Abstract: A jammer includes means for receiving a local radio transmission and means for determining the frequency of the local radio transmission. Monitoring circuits are arranged to detect the end of the local radio transmission and only then to trigger the transmission of a jamming signal by jamming signal transmitting means. In this manner the jammer jams local reception of the response of a non-local station to the detected local transmission. The jammer is able to jam effectively using a low power signal. The reduction in the power-consumption of the jammer makes it particularly suitable for use as a leave-behind jammer for military applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1991
    Assignee: British Aerospace Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Anthony M. New
  • Solar array power simulator
    Patent number: 4999524
    Abstract: A power supply for supplying power to a switched regulator includes a programmable voltage source 14, a constant voltage source 12 and a programmable switched mode current source 16 connected in series between the positive and negative outputs. A catching diode 18 is connected in parallel with the constant voltage source 12 and the current source 16. The supply operates to provide a controlled current at the output, irrespective of the load voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1991
    Assignee: British Aerospace Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Anthony B. Williams, Kenneth M. Redford, Scott Mitchell, Richard N. Bussell
  • Aircraft of split turbo-prop configuration
    Patent number: 4998995
    Abstract: A turbo-prop driven aircraft has the engines (6) and propeller assemblies (10) spatially separated fore and aft of the wing box (4) and interconnected by a drive shaft (27). This arrangement permits the engine to be located away from the wing box without causing excessive overhang of the turbo-prop installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1991
    Assignee: British Aerospace Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Alan A. Blythe
  • Methods of manufacture and surface treatment using laser radiation
    Patent number: 4994639
    Abstract: An excimer laser is used to ablate the surface of an article to provide it with a drag-reduction pattern (e.g. a series of riblets). The article may be a painted article and the drag reduction pattern may be formed in the paint layer. A method is also disclosed in which paint is removed from a painted article using an excimer laser, as a prepatory step for repainting the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1991
    Assignee: British Aerospace Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Peter H. Dickinson, Geoffrey M. Proudley
  • Structural box beams
    Patent number: 4989774
    Abstract: A structural box beam of the type formed by a method using superplastic forming and diffusion bonding techniques (SPF/DB). The basis is a SPF/DB four sheet cellular structure box beam, for particular application to a flap track beam for aircraft, said box beam including integrally formed flap track flanges and corrugated shear webs. The corrugations serve the dual purpose of reacting local track bending moments. Internal shear webs are integrally formed as part of the cellular structure. The box beam is designed to be manufactured from a flat blank assembly consisting of four chemically-etched sheets with local reinforcements placed between the core and skin sheets providing a low cost means of tailoring the beam to minimum thickness requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Assignee: British Aerospace Public Limited Company
    Inventors: David Stephen, Martin H. Mansbridge, David J. Irwin
  • Body with deployable support means
    Patent number: 4989812
    Abstract: Automatically deployable support means for a body requiring, in use, to stand in an upright position on a surface, for example a land surface or the sea bed has a plurality of legs pivoted to the body so as to be movable from a stowed position to a support position in which they extend generally outwards and downwards from the body, the deployment means for effecting such movement including an axially movable cam housed in the body and a cam follower formed on each leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Assignee: British Aerospace Public Limited Company
    Inventor: David H. Lloyd
  • Stabilizing air to ground radar
    Patent number: 4987419
    Abstract: Air-to-ground radar (2) is stabilized by comparing the power of the returning echo occurring during an initial period after the transmission of each pulse with that occurring during a following period after the transmission of each pulse, and using the result of this comparison to control an elevation controller (13) of the radar (2). Means (7, 8) provide a first power signal representative of the power of the returning echo occurring during an initial period after the transmission of each pulse, means (7, 9, 10) provide a second power signal representative of the power of the returning echo occurring during a following period after the transmission of each pulse, and a comparator (12) compares the magnitude of the first and second power signals and outputs a control signal causing the elevation controller (13) to raise or lower the elevation at which output pulses are projected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1991
    Assignee: British Aerospace Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Geoffrey Salkeld
  • Course correction unit
    Patent number: 4982913
    Abstract: This invention relates to a course correction unit, specifically but not exclusively for use on a spin stabilized guided projectile which can produce high speed instantaneous course correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1991
    Assignee: British Aerospace Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Lee Miller
  • Force sensitive aircraft throttle with feedback
    Patent number: 4982918
    Abstract: A force control throttle suitable for military or civil aircraft which is stowable in a console when not required for use. Fore and aft forces applied to the throttle handle by the pilot are sensed by pressure transducers which generate, in response, signals for controlling engine thrust. Tactile information relating to engine thrust demand is fed back to the pilot by means of a drive motor which tilts the throttle handle as fore or aft pressure is exerted. The angle of tilt is a function of the degree of pressure exerted and the demanded engine thrust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1991
    Assignee: British Aerospace Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Arthur Kaye
  • Laser beam communication between spacecraft
    Patent number: 4982445
    Abstract: A laser beam communication system for spacecraft in which each communication terminal comprises, for steering the beam projected from that terminal, four mirrors, each mounted on a mechanism capable of rotating the mirror about a constant defined axis. The mirrors and their attached mechanisms are arranged in pairs with one pair on either side of a magnifying telescope. All rotating joints in each mechanism are constructed using flexure pivots. Such a pointing element can provide both the range and accuracy required for an important class of free space laser links without introducing any extra friction into the pointing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1991
    Assignee: British Aerospace Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Michael A. Grant, David Robson, Nicholas F. Matthews
  • Ring laser gyroscopes
    Patent number: 4973161
    Abstract: The invention relates to a ring laser gyroscope in modular form. In a favored construction, two modules each comprising one or more mirrors in fixed relationship have a third module comprising gain bores sealed in a gas-tight manner therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1990
    Assignee: British Aerospace Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Graham J. Simms
  • Forming elongate structural components
    Patent number: 4972696
    Abstract: A system for forming components to have a predetermined contour includes a manipulator having four manipulating heads 44, 52, 56, 58 which engage longitudinally spaced portions of the component. The system uses the manipulator to determine the initial contour of an increment of the length of the component, compares the measured contour with the required contour to determine the contour or shape error and then controls the manipulator to apply one or more permanent set deflections in accordance with the required contour. The manipulator is then advanced relative to the component and further measuring and deflections steps are performed until the component has the required contour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 27, 1990
    Assignee: British Aerospace Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Howard R. Apps, Adrian D. Lucas, Philip C. Fairhall
  • Anti-ice protection for projectiles
    Patent number: 4970937
    Abstract: This invention relates to an anti-ice protector for use on open-ended projectile launch tubes. The protector is made of resiliently deformable material and is hinged to permit the protector being removed by the emerging projectile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Assignee: British Aerospace Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Norman R. Ward
  • Ring laser gyroscope with hollow cathode having frusto-ellipsoidal surface
    Patent number: 4969157
    Abstract: A cathode (12) for a glow discharge device and comprising a hollow body provided with an opening and having an internal working surface (18) which is substantially frusto-ellipsoidal. The cathode has particular application to a laser gyroscope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 6, 1990
    Assignee: British Aerospace Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Alan R. Malvern
  • Reflective picture generator
    Patent number: 4967091
    Abstract: Apparatus for testing and/or calibrating a detector comprising a latent image generator, the generator having differing reflectance coefficients across its surface such that in use, when irradiated by collimated radiation the output intensity from some regions is relatively high and from other regions is relatively low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1990
    Assignee: British Aerospace Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Martin L. Fair, John C. Roberts
  • Reaction control system
    Patent number: 4955558
    Abstract: A projectile reaction control system includes a nozzle assembly in which the efflux exhausted thereby may be controlled in a continuously variable fashion. In one example control is by means of a slidable piston so that the thrust developed by the nozzle assembly is substantially linearly dependent on the displacement of the piston, whereby the reaction control system may be controlled by an autopilot with little or no modification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1990
    Assignee: British Aerospace Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Anthony Machell, Peter G. Foulsham