Patents Assigned to General Dynamics
  • Patent number: 6432178
    Abstract: A gas arrestor separates entrained gas from a liquid medium. The gas arrestor is a porous member, such as a woven mesh screen having pores of a size sufficiently small to enable liquid transport while inhibiting gas transport. Since the trapped gas has a tendency to accumulate on the porous member impeding continued liquid flow, a wick extends in an upstream direction from the porous member. When used in spacecraft to provide substantially gas-free liquid to a thruster, the gas arrestor is located between a tank of pressurized liquid propellant and a gas generator. Improved results are obtained by locating the gas arrestor between a pressure reducing liquid fluid resistor and the gas generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: General Dynamics OTS (Aerospace), Inc.
    Inventors: Paul G. Lichon, Dieter M. Zube
  • Patent number: 6430000
    Abstract: A device for storage of electronic data has a sealed hard drive component that can be mounted directly to a circuit board. The device can house a plurality of individual hard drives in a stacked configuration. The stacked hard drives are encased within a hermetically sealed housing, the exterior of which has connectors suitable for mounting directly to a circuit board. At least two of the hard drives encased within the housing can be controlled by a single hard drive controller located inside or outside the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: General Dynamics Information Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas M. Rent
  • Publication number: 20020102146
    Abstract: A self-tapping threaded insert (20) for threadedly mounting another component by a threaded central connector (50). An assembly (24) of the insert (20) and a mounting member (22) for threadedly mounting the insert are assembled by a method for mounting the self-tapping threaded insert. The insert (20) has a threaded shank (26) that is threaded into a partially tapped hole and has a shank end with flutes (32) of a construction that provides self-tapping. Upon final torquing, a locking flange (42) of the insert (20) locks against a surface (46) of the member (22) as threads of the insert shank (26) are completely engaged with the hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2001
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Applicant: General Dynamics Land Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Fredric J. Wheeler
  • Publication number: 20020097056
    Abstract: A device for measuring the AC voltage drop across a series of connections under load with no direct electrical contact to the conductors. The presence of a substantial resistance at series contacts is indicative of a series arcing fault. The device comprises a capacitive probe for clamping to the outer insulation layer of the wire to sense a first voltage at a first node. The device further comprises a floating high-impedance meter having a ground reference coupled to the source of common-mode voltage at a second node, the floating high-impedance meter being adapted to measure a voltage difference between the two nodes and being further adapted to indicate the presence of the series fault when the measured voltage exceeds a predetermined level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Applicant: General Dynamics OTS (Aerospace), Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick K. Blades
  • Patent number: 6422120
    Abstract: A firing mechanism for a rotary machine gun is disclosed. The machine gun includes a housing that rotatably mounts a rotor assembly. The rotor assembly is configured to receive a plurality of ammunition rounds and includes a plurality of firing pins. The firing mechanism includes a percussion system that is disposed on the housing and operates to engage each of the firing pins as the rotor assembly rotates. The percussion system delivers a mechanical force to one of the plurality of ammunition rounds. The firing mechanism further includes an electrical contact that is connected to an electrical power source. The electrical contact is disposed in the housing to contact each of the firing pins as the rotor assembly rotates and to deliver electrical energy to the one ammunition round.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: General Dynamics Armament Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Arthur Bates, Quentan Theodore Sawyer
  • Patent number: 6421167
    Abstract: Multiple function bandwidth management systems. Bandwidth-management systems for an optical network are easily assembled by concatenating a plurality of intelligent, miniaturized, bandwidth-management modules (BMM's) together. The BMM's subdivide the wide available spectrum into narrow band segments. Each individual BMM is designed to overcome loss and optimize dispersion, gain, and power or gain equalization for a few channels at a time. Each device includes optical connectors and filters, as well as any other components necessary to direct the band of optical channels through the device's optical path while passing other optical channels within the spectrum to additional devices which can be connected without disturbing existing bandwidth-management modules. Each BMM also includes a digital control module that operates the BMM in any one of a plurality of selectable operating modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: General Dynamics Advanced Technology Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Leonard George Cohen, David Brian Patterson, James Harold Murdock, Brian Charles Moore, Adolph Henry Moesle, Koo Il Kang, Darlene Louise Hart
  • Patent number: 6405349
    Abstract: A process (20) and design tool (62) are presented for the accurate prediction of design parameters (42) for components (38) of an integrated circuit (22) during the early stages of the design of that integrated circuit (22). These predicted design parameters (42) include pin count parameters (50), propagation delay parameters (52), layout area parameters (54), dynamic power parameters (56), static power parameters (58), and total power parameters (60). With these parameters, the designer interactively modifies the design prior to the layout and prototyping of the integrated circuit (22). The dynamic power parameters (56) and total power parameters (60) may be repetitively predicted with differing input items to establish a power usage pattern for the integrated circuit (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: General Dynamics Decision Systems, In.
    Inventors: John B. Gehman, Kerry Lucille Johns-Vano, Colleen Kane Steward
  • Patent number: 6402089
    Abstract: An adaptive controller is used to adaptively generate vibration cancellation signals driving a controlled device which effects an associated vibration and noise-producing plant. The adaptive controller has multiple control paths to generate the control signal. In a vibration attenuation control path(s), an adaptive control signal is generated by plant compensation and adaptive filtering techniques to cancel vibrations. In a position control, saturation prevention path, the available operational extents of the controlled device are monitored and compensation signals are generated which direct the movement of the controlled device in such a manner as to prevent the controlled device from reaching the extents of control. The control signals from the multiple paths are then combined and transmitted to the controlled device which alters in some fashion the noise and vibration being generated or transmitted by the associated vibrating plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: General Dynamics Advanced Technology Services, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Kiss, Michael H. Silverberg
  • Patent number: 6394016
    Abstract: A system and method for the capture of a target surface vessel by a second vessel. The system includes an initially stowed deployable net, means for deploying the net, a tether coupled to the net, and a winch for drawing in the tether to pull the target vessel toward the second vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry L. Swartout, Kevin Gessner
  • Patent number: 6393991
    Abstract: A multipurpose warhead utilizes a shaped charge device with a shaped charge liner having an included angle in excess of 70° sealing an internal cavity that contains an explosive. A detonatior system having a selectable plurality of outputs contacts the explosive. Peripheral detonation of the explosive generates a high speed, small diameter, penetrating jet that typically includes about 90% of the liner mass. Central point source detonation of the explosive generates a larger diameter, slower moving, explosively formed penetrator. A combination of plural peripheral point detonation and central point source detonation generates multiple fragments. An ability to select detonation type in the field enables a single warhead to be effective against multiple target types. The shaped charge liner may optionally be a composite material having a jet forming portion and an effect forming portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald J. Funston, Kjell V. Mattsson, Neal N. Ouye
  • Patent number: 6378435
    Abstract: A projectile fuze detects transitions between target layers by an electronic antenna radiating laterally into the target material and coupled to a pullable oscillator whose frequency shifts as the target material changes while the projectile penetrates. A frequency shift threshold detector relates the observed frequency shifts to a stored target profile to detonate the projectile after the desired layer penetration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: General Dynamics Decision Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Monty W. Bai, Gerald James Moore, Ralph Eugene Foresman
  • Patent number: 6377969
    Abstract: A scalable multiplier architecture for the Galois field GF(2k) is implemented in a programmable circuit. This architecture may be used in an implementation of public-key cryptosystems which use programmable multipliers in large Galois fields. This architecture is also fine grain scalable in both the time and the area (or logic) dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: General Dynamics Government Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Gerardo Orlando, Christof Paar
  • Patent number: 6371424
    Abstract: A mounting for mounting an article onto a support comprising upper and lower mounting members. Seating surfaces provided between the members retain the members in assembled relationship with the members immovably registered together in a first plane. Three spaced mounting member registration projections provide, in the assembly, contact between the mounting members in three spaced and staggered positions on opposite sides of one of the mounting members, and registration to hold the members immovably together in a second plane. Spring-loaded locking is provided to hold the members together when assembled. Preferably the registration projections are provided on one member upon guide surfaces which are converging and inclined towards a respective seating surface. Guide surfaces on the other member are correspondingly converging and inclined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: General Dynamics Canada Ltd.
    Inventor: Stephen David Shaw
  • Patent number: 6373023
    Abstract: Thermionic emission of electrons is utilized to initiate arc discharge in a pulsed plasma thruster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: General Dynamics (OTS) Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Hoskins, Robert J. Cassady
  • Patent number: 6370251
    Abstract: Key escrow is achieved without a key escrow facility. An escrow key pair is generated and stored in the terminal. A key escrow field that includes a traffic key encrypted with the escrow key is provided before encrypted traffic is communicated. When access to the traffic key is authorized, the escrow key is extracted from the terminal and used to decrypt the traffic key. The private portion of the escrow key is covered in the terminal with an escrow key access number. The escrow key access number is preferably generated by the terminal manufacturer with a secret algorithm using the terminal serial number. Alternatively, the escrow key is stored within a user token, rather than the terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: General Dynamics Decision Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Allan Hardy, Douglas Matthew East
  • Patent number: 6357695
    Abstract: A reticle for a guidance seeker for spinning projectiles comprises a substrate; a pattern of a plurality of alternating light modulating structures, such as opaque and light transmitting, or light absorbing and light reflecting areas on the substrate such that an image of a target moving on the substrate will generate a plurality of pulses corresponding to the number of lines crossed by the image, the number of pulses increasing as the image moves outwardly from the center of the reticle; and a distinguishable, unambiguous, and singly periodic feature of the pattern, which is readily detectable every time the target image moves circumferentially, completing a full circle around the center of the reticle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Tibor G. Horwath
  • Patent number: 6359901
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for continuous load optimization of wireless communication networks by making use of statistical data about both the communication medium characteristics and the characteristics of messages that users desire to send over the network. The network comprises a network control base station (20) and a plurality of slave stations (22). One or more applications (72, 104) are associated with each station which are used to generate the messages in digital format. Each application is coupled to a protocol stack (88) that defines the required characteristics of the data and changes to the data that occur during the communication process. An interface (90) is coupled to the layers of each protocol stack (88) to allow tuning of the message characteristics to maximize successful transmission with minimum message latency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: General Dynamics Decision Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Charlene Jean Todd, Jeffrey Scott Churprun, Byron L. Tarver, Chad Scott Bergstrom
  • Patent number: 6356638
    Abstract: An interface between a digital communication system and a PSTN establishes a user configurable secure encrypted link to a digital subscriber unit through the digital communication system, and provides clear (unencrypted) voice to telephone sets through the PSTN. The interface includes a security module for encrypting and decrypting information with user specific algorithms and keys, a transcoder for converting modulated voice to digital voice and a modem for modulating and demodulating data and encrypted voice. Accordingly, the wireline interface allows for user specified security over a digital wireless portion of an end-to-end communication channel. The interface also provides for the communication of unencrypted voice followed by secure voice or secure data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: General Dynamics Decision Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Allan Hardy, Peter J. Armbruster
  • Patent number: 6356684
    Abstract: Adjustable optical fiber grating dispersion compensators. The invention provides a fully tunable dispersion compensator with a wide dynamic range. Dispersion compensators according to the invention are based on uniform fiber Bragg grating technology. Individual gratings are tuned so that the gratings, which normally operate in reflection mode, operate in transmission mode with the frequency of interest falling just outside a reflection band edge. Gratings are combined to provide broadband, or multiple-wavelength dispersion. Tuning is provided via transducers coupled to the gratings. A control system can be connected to the transducers to provide a control signal so that the frequencies of the gratings can be dynamically tuned. The control system operates by measuring signals from opto-electronic detectors. The signals are used to determine a fractional spectral power transmitted through a filter. The fractional spectral power is related to the amount of dispersion present in the optical path of the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: General Dynamics Advanced Technology Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: David Brian Patterson, Brian Charles Moore
  • Patent number: 6343536
    Abstract: An automatic projectile firing weapon and a related method for absorbing the recoil force of an automatic projectile firing weapon are disclosed. The weapon includes a barrel assembly that is slidably mounted in a receiver, biased by an operating spring, and engageable with a main sear. A gas operated bolt assembly is slidably mounted within the barrel assembly and is driven by a bolt spring. A trigger is provided to release the main sear and allow the operating spring to move the barrel assembly forwardly in the receiver. There is further provided a buffer connected between the receiver and the barrel assembly to dampen the velocity of the barrel assembly to ensure the barrel assembly is moving at a predetermined maximum velocity when a round is fired at a predetermined firing position. The recoil energy from the fired round is absorbed mainly by the forward motion of the barrel assembly and in part by the operating spring and buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: General Dynamics Armament Systems
    Inventors: Glenn E. Rossier, Larry W. Hayes, David L. Steimke, Victor Forrester