Patents Assigned to General Dynamics
  • Patent number: 4343532
    Abstract: A dual directional, wavelength demultiplexer including an optical fiber mounted and adhered to a curved surface having a clad single-fiber core, a planar surface extending partially into and along the fiber through the cladding, a prism mounted on the surface having two reflective surfaces positioned to receive multiple signals from the fiber travelling in opposite directions, optical gratings positioned at the reflective surfaces effective to diffract and demultiplex the signals, and photodiode arrays mounted adjacent the prism to receive the demultiplexed reflected signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1982
    Assignee: General Dynamics, Pomona Division
    Inventor: John P. Palmer
  • Patent number: 4342252
    Abstract: A tandem rocket launcher is provided by mounting plural rockets in an elongated launch tube with associated guide and launch equipment for each rocket. A conical shield is placed between the rockets which deflects exhaust gases generated by firing the forward rocket away from the rearward rocket. The shield is then removed by firing of the subsequent rocket or pivoting of two halves of the deflector away from the path of travel of the subsequent rocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1982
    Assignee: General Dynamics, Pomona Division
    Inventors: Allen C. Hagelberg, Clark E. Allardt
  • Patent number: 4341173
    Abstract: A propulsion motor for an underwater vehicle such as an anti-submarine weapon. The motor includes a propulsion chamber into which water is admitted and then rapidly expelled through an exhaust nozzle, developing thrust to propel the vehicle. Gas generators are used to develop the successive hydropulses to expel the water following each filling of the motor chamber with water. In one particular embodiment of an anti-submarine weapon which is directed through the air to the vicinity of a submarine by a rocket motor, the hydropulse underwater propulsion system can use the same chamber as the rocket motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1982
    Assignee: General Dynamics, Pomona Division
    Inventors: Allen C. Hagelberg, Clark E. Allardt
  • Patent number: 4337560
    Abstract: An automated assembly, maintenance, and repair system for the construction of a large space structure. The space structure comprises a plurality of trusses and truss junctions that in turn are made up of a plurality of individual struts and nodes. The truss assemblies are progressively built by an assembler trolley as the trolley crawls along the constructed truss. The trolley comprises a forward crawler and a rear crawler joined by an articulated coupler. The crawlers are carried along the structure by belt transports incorporating grippers that engage the truss structure at the nodes. Manipulator arms for strut and node assembly are located on the forward crawler, and the majority of control, power, and communication systems are located in the rear crawler. Cargo canisters filled with component parts for constructing the space structure are carried by the forward crawler. The space structure configuration is determined by the arrangement of the individual struts and nodes during the assembly process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1982
    Assignee: General Dynamics, Convair Division
    Inventor: Paul Slysh
  • Patent number: 4337427
    Abstract: In a closed loop servo system in which the input signal is inaccessible and not available for measurement, but the error signal and output signal are both accessible and measurable, a filter configuration is provided which can be inserted into the error signal path of the system to reduce the undesirable effects of noise or other unwanted signals without appreciably affecting the closed loop dynamics of the overall system. In the generalized system a filter having the characteristics g(s) in LaPlace notation is inserted into the error signal path of the system to filter selected components of the error signal. A second filter having the characteristics h(s) which satisfies the equation g(s)+h(s)=1, is coupled between the output signal and the output of the filter having the characteristics g(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1982
    Assignee: General Dynamics, Pomona Division
    Inventor: Inge Maudal
  • Patent number: 4337436
    Abstract: 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1951
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1982
    Assignee: General Dynamics Corporation, Electronics Division
    Inventors: Beryl L. McArdle, Pierre J. Tapernoux
  • Patent number: 4335933
    Abstract: An optical fiber wavelength demultiplexer including an optical fiber mounted and adhered to a curved surface having a clad single fiber core, a planar surface extending partially into and along the fiber through the cladding, a prism mounted on the surface having a reflective diffraction grating surface positioned to receive signals from the fiber travelling in one direction and demultiplex such signals, and an array of photodiodes mounted adjacent the prism to receive the demultiplexed signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1982
    Assignee: General Dynamics, Pomona Division
    Inventor: John P. Palmer
  • Patent number: 4334816
    Abstract: An automated assembly, maintenance, and repair system for the construction of a large space structure. The space structure comprises a plurality of trusses and truss junctions that in turn are made up of a plurality of individual struts and nodes. The truss assemblies are progressively built by an assembler trolley as the trolley crawls along the constructed truss. The trolley comprises a forward crawler and a rear crawler joined by an articulated coupler. The crawlers are carried along the structure by belt transports incorporating grippers that engage the truss structure at the nodes. Manipulator arms for strut and node assembly are located on the forward crawler, and the majority of control, power, and communication systems are located in the rear crawler. Cargo canisters filled with component parts for constructing the space structure are carried by the forward crawler. The space structure configuration is determined by the arrangement of the individual struts and nodes during the assembly process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1982
    Assignee: General Dynamics Corporation
    Inventor: Paul Slysh
  • Patent number: 4332066
    Abstract: A tool holder has compliance features that allow a hole to be drilled at high tolerances by a remote controlled control arm. The holes are drilled in a workpiece that has a template secured over it with guide holes for positioning the holes to be drilled. A self-feeding drill of the type that will simultaneously rotate and advance a drill bit is mounted in a support. A sleeve is carried at the forward end of the support for enclosing the drill bit. An index carriage moves the support forwardly into the guide hole after the control arm has substantially aligned the sleeve with the guide hole. Compliance mechanisms in the support allow the entire drill, drill bit and sleeve to move as a unit a limited amount parallel to and angularly with respect to the template and the indexing carriage, to allow advancement of the sleeve into the guide hole even though there may have been initial misalignment. The compliance mechanisms preferably include an inner guide member mounted within an outer guide member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1982
    Assignee: General Dynamics Corporation
    Inventors: Samuel I. Hailey, George M. Kaler, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4332501
    Abstract: An automated assembly, maintenance, and repair system for the construction of a large space structure. The space structure comprises a plurality of trusses and truss junctions that in turn are made up of a plurality of individual struts and nodes. The truss assemblies are progressively built by an assembler trolley as the trolley crawls along the constructed truss. The trolley comprises a forward crawler and a rear crawler joined by an articulated coupler. The crawlers are carried along the structure by belt transports incorporating grippers that engage the truss structure at the nodes. Manipulator arms for strut and node assembly are located on the forward crawler, and the majority of control, power, and communication systems are located in the rear crawler. Cargo canisters filled with component parts for constructing the space structure are carried by the forward crawler. The space structure configuration is determined by the arrangement of the individual struts and nodes during the assembly process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1981
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1982
    Assignee: General Dynamics Corporation
    Inventor: Paul Slysh
  • Patent number: 4332426
    Abstract: A rolling arc gimbal mount includes a base having means for attachment to a support structure and an arcuate yoke supported in the base by recirculating bearing means. The recirculating bearing including a raceway formed in opposite sides of the yoke and in opposed facing mounts on the support structure with plurality of balls or rollers disposed between the yoke guideway and the base guideway and including recirculating guides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1982
    Assignee: General Dynamics, Pomona Division
    Inventor: John M. Speicher
  • Patent number: 4328792
    Abstract: A solar heat collector utilizing an elongated vertical mast to support a rectangular parabolic reflector and a transparent cover. The mast is located at the focal point of the parabolic reflector, and the fluid to be heated enters the unit at the bottom, is partially heated as it rises by convection, enters the mast at the upper portion thereof, and is transported downward while being further heated due to the mast focal point location. The unit is rotatable about the mast to maximize heat transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1982
    Assignee: General Dynamics, Pomona Division
    Inventor: Marvin W. Shores
  • Patent number: 4327624
    Abstract: Disclosed is a launcher-missile system with the launcher tube provided with a configuration on its aft end so as to reduce the tip-off rates of the system. The configuration comprises the formation of an open sector in the flared end of the launcher tube so that a portion of the exhaust gases exiting from the tube, as the missile is fired, does not impinge on that sector of the flared end and thus an impulse caused by the impinging of the gases on the remainder of the flared end reduces the tip-off rate.Also disclosed is a means in which the size and location of the open sector can be selected depending upon the desired change in magnitude and direction of the tip-off rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1982
    Assignee: General Dynamics, Pomona Division
    Inventor: Edward T. Piesik
  • Patent number: 4328389
    Abstract: A solar energy splitting photovoltaic concentrator system that includes a first reflector that concentrates and directs sunlight to a high energy bandgap first photovoltaic array that absorbs and converts into electricity high energy photons. A second reflector formed integrally with the first photovoltaic array concentrates and reflects low energy photons back through the first photovoltaic array, which is transparent to the low energy photon, to a low energy bandgap second photovoltaic array that absorbs and converts the low energy photons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1981
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1982
    Assignee: General Dynamics Corporation
    Inventors: Theodore G. Stern, David M. Peterson
  • Patent number: 4326902
    Abstract: An ultrasonic welding energy concentrating chain comprising a plurality of relatively flat members integrally formed from a flat stock of energy concentrating material having a predetermined thickness and joined together adjacent their peripheries by integral portions to interconnect adjacent members into a longitudinally extending chain, said integral portions being formed as to permit each manual separation of adjacent members, said members being adapted to being interposed between sheets of thermoplastic material and upon application of ultrasonic energy to the sandwich of thermoplastic sheets, the shape of the weld of such thermoplastic sheets generally approximating the shape of said flat members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1982
    Assignee: General Dynamics, Convair Division
    Inventor: Gerald D. Peddie
  • Patent number: 4326928
    Abstract: A method of electroforming a part comprising the steps of electroless depositing a coat of metal on a mandrel of heat shrinkable material, electrodepositing a second coating of metal over the first coat, heating to a temperature which will shrink the mandrel, and removing the shrunken mandrel from the electroformed part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1982
    Assignee: General Dynamics, Pomona Division
    Inventor: William P. Dugan
  • Patent number: 4324167
    Abstract: A rear cover for rocket launch tubes providing a seal between the tube and the rear of the rocket. The rocket is arranged in a manner such that the exhaust of a firing rocket will produce a seal between a sealing member and the rear of the rocket and will seal off the portion of the tube adjacent to the rocket itself, thus preventing exhaust gases from entering this portion of the launch tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1982
    Assignee: General Dynamics, Pomona Division
    Inventor: Edward T. Piesik
  • Patent number: 4324375
    Abstract: A spacecraft modular system with two components of a cooling system, one in each replacement hardware module and one in the satellite station, with a coupling means in the replacement module in the form of heat sink which collects heat from the heat generating hardware in the replacement module. The heat sink incorporates heat sink fins which interdigitize with coolant tubes in the satellite coolant system and make a mechanical interface with the fins in response to the satellite coolant system pressure for a thermally efficient heat exchange from the replacement module to the satellite coolant system. In another embodiment, replacement module coolant tubes interdigitize directly with the satellite coolant tubes in a fluid pressure responsive thermally efficient mechanical contact to provide a fluid-to-fluid mechanical coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1982
    Assignee: General Dynamics Corporation
    Inventor: Richard F. O'Neill
  • Patent number: 4322984
    Abstract: A gyroscope caging system includes a clamping ring encircling a portion of the rotor of the gyro and adapted to engage an annular groove in the rotor simultaneously with engagement of a groove in a base support member, for clamping to and supporting the rotor during very high acceleration launches of a missile or airborne vehicle. The caging system is adapted to preload the gyroscope bearings in order to insure that the maximum load is carried by the cage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1979
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1982
    Assignee: General Dynamics, Pomona Division
    Inventors: George Lasker, Paul G. Redman
  • Patent number: 4320402
    Abstract: A broadband microstrip antenna including two overlapping PC boards. A plurality of concentric spaced apart radiating rings and an upper ground plane layer are etched in the conductive upper surface of the upper PC board. An RF feedline network is etched in the conductive lower surface of the upper PC board. A continuous ground plane layer overlies the lower surface of the lower PC board. Plated through holes in the upper PC board connect a pair of 90.degree. spaced feed points on each of the rings to the feedline network. The feedline network is made of a plurality of conductive strips and matching stubs which are dimensioned and interconnected to permit the transmission/reception of circular polarized RF electromagnetic radiation while also matching the impedance of the rings to the impedance of a plurality of coaxial connectors mounted to the lower PC board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1982
    Assignee: General Dynamics Corp./Electronics Division
    Inventor: Edwin D. Bowen