Patents Assigned to General Dynamics
  • Fin erection mechanism
    Patent number: 4296895
    Abstract: A plurality of fins for a missile which are capable of being folded to conform to the general cylindrical contour of the missile body and which are biased to unfold to an erect position and which includes an interconnection mechanism for connecting all the fins together to ensure simultaneous erection and for distributing the erection moment of individual fins to all fins; said interconnection means further being capable of acting without interfering with the movement of the fins for flight control without need for disengagement after erection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1981
    Assignee: General Dynamics Corporation
    Inventor: Ladislao Pazmany
  • Material and method for securing boron filaments to each other and to a substrate and cutting tools therefrom
    Patent number: 4295885
    Abstract: Material and method for securely attaching boron filaments to other like filaments and to a substrate with preservation of the filament integrity for cutting and abrading by coating them with a mixture of matrix metals essentially containing copper, tin and titanium and joining the filaments by the matrix metals and/or to the substrate into an integral structure by liquid-phase-sintering of the matrix metals which grip and adhere the filaments in a strong, tough alloy with the integrity of the filaments essentially preserved. Boron filament-containing tools for cutting, grinding, abrading, or the like may be fabricated using the materials of the invention and the methods disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1978
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1981
    Assignee: General Dynamics Corporation
    Inventor: William T. Kaarlela
  • Fastener incorporating removable ultrasonic transducer
    Patent number: 4295377
    Abstract: A threaded fastener incorporating a removable ultrasonic transducer for obtaining preload measurements as well as other measurements for quality control inspection or for monitoring purposes. The transducer may be removed for repair or replacement purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1981
    Assignee: General Dynamics Corporation
    Inventor: James C. Couchman
  • Fastener incorporating ultrasonic transducer
    Patent number: 4294122
    Abstract: A threaded bolt having an opening in either its head or its opposite end with an ultrasonic transducer fixedly secured therein for use in obtaining preload measurements as well as other measurements for quality control inspection or for monitoring purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1981
    Assignee: General Dynamics Corporation
    Inventor: James C. Couchman
  • Composite tape laying apparatus including means for plural longitudinal and transverse cuts
    Patent number: 4292108
    Abstract: An apparatus for severing and laying composite tape to form structural members with a shearing and compacting mechanism capable of a large variety of angular or circular severances. The severances are formed incrementally or digitally with a number of lengthwise slits of selected length. A plurality of transverse cuts are formed in the tape to intersect the slits to form a stairstepped severance. A curved chute at the discharge end of the apparatus has an endless belt to maintain the tape in alignment as it is pressed onto the work surface. The tape is compacted onto the work surface by a segmented roller system composed of several individual rollers. As the severance is reached, the rollers are selectively and individually disengaged from the work surface to correlate compaction termination with the shape of the severance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1981
    Assignee: General Dynamics Corporation
    Inventors: Olin E. Weiss, Grant L. Davis, James L. Hudson, Harlan T. Dowell
  • Method for vacuum lamination of flex circuits
    Patent number: 4290838
    Abstract: A vacuum laminating fixture includes a pair of opposed plates having opposed plane faces with a peripheral groove formed in each plate surrounding the face with the grooves matched for receiving a unitary band seal extending between the grooves for sealing the space between the faces of the plates, a vacuum port is formed in the lower plate communicating with the area of the face inside the peripheral groove. The method includes setting up a laminate of plural flexible sheets of circuit, placing the laminate within and between the faces of the plates, drawing a vacuum of 28 inches of mercury for a period of two minutes to completely evacuate the space between the laminate sheets, and thereafter applying a predetermined curing pressure and temperature to the plates within a press.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1981
    Assignee: General Dynamics, Pomona Division
    Inventors: Joseph A. Reavill, John M. Arachi
  • Decoy rounds and their method of fabrication
    Patent number: 4286498
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to countermeasure systems, particularly to systems for providing a protective cover against homing and/or fire control devices operating upon infrared, sonar, or microwave reflected energy or for confusing search and tracking devices, and more particularly to decoy rounds and their method of fabrication. The decoy rounds include at least one load of energy generating material, means for propelling the load, a burst charge for shattering the load, the burst charge being constructed so as to cause a line type explosion, and means for igniting the burst charge. The decoy rounds are fabricated by a process which includes a novel method of producing the line type explosion and includes a novel assembly operation which allows the round to be exploded in such a way that birdnesting of the decoy material is minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1965
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1981
    Assignee: General Dynamics, Pomona Division
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Block, William M. Carter, George H. Schillreff
  • Fiber optic bar code reader
    Patent number: 4286145
    Abstract: A fiber optic bar code reader utilizing a light source coupled to one port of a three-port directional coupler. A light detector is coupled to a second port of the coupler, a single fiber probe for receiving and transmitting light is coupled to the third port of the coupler. The coupler joins the three fibers so that light is initially transmitted from the light source to the probe fiber, exits the probe fiber, is selectively reflected by the bar code, and finally is transmitted through the directional coupler to the light detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1981
    Assignee: General Dynamics, Pomona Division
    Inventor: John P. Palmer
  • Uniform plasma etching system
    Patent number: 4282077
    Abstract: A uniform plasma etching system includes a plasma reaction chamber with a source of reactive gas communicating therewith and an RF generator connected to individual electrodes located in the plasma chamber, the electrodes arranged for defining separate part cells and separate plasma generating chambers between the separate cells and means for individually and separately adjusting each of the cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1981
    Assignee: General Dynamics, Pomona Division
    Inventor: Joseph A. Reavill
  • Multi-spectral detection system with common collecting means
    Patent number: 4282527
    Abstract: A multi-spectral detection system for detecting radiation within frequency bands that are in diverse portions of the electromagnetic spectrum is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1981
    Assignee: General Dynamics, Pomona Division
    Inventors: Jay B. Winderman, Fernand B. Kuffer
  • Differential drive rolling arc gimbal
    Patent number: 4282529
    Abstract: A gimbal assembly in which the outer gimbal member is an arcuate yoke mounted on rollers to rotate about one axis, and the inner gimbal member is a platform pivotally mounted in the yoke to rotate about a second orthogonal axis. Two motors are connected through a differential drive system to rotate either gimbal member selectively or both together in any combination of motions. In one form the differential drive is an endless cable extending around the outer gimbal member and around pulleys on the axis of the inner gimbal member. In a modified form the cable is crossed at one end to drive the inner gimbal member from both ends. In another form the differential drive includes split outer ring members driven individually by the two motors and coupled to the inner gimbal member by a rack and pinion drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1981
    Assignee: General Dynamics, Pomona Division
    Inventor: John M. Speicher
  • Range corrector circuit for a bistatic passive radar display
    Patent number: 4281327
    Abstract: The range corrector circuit uses two counters, one for the apparent range (R.sub.a) and one for the correct range (R.sub.c), and a random access memory (RAM). The R.sub.c counter is continuously incremented linearly and the R.sub.a counter is incremented in accordance with a range correction equation. Both counters are reset to one every time a transmitter pulse is received. A linear sweep is also initiated on the plan position indicator (PPI) display of the bistatic passive radar at that time. Target returns are entered into the RAM at the address specified by the R.sub.c counter and are read out of the RAM and applied to the PPI display at the address specified by the R.sub.a counter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1981
    Assignee: General Dynamics, Pomona Division
    Inventors: Lawrence M. Frazier, William H. Johnson
  • Slip ring assembly
    Patent number: 4281328
    Abstract: A flat slip ring which is larger in diameter than a conventional slip ring/brush assembly is attached to the rotatable unit concentric with and facing axially with respect to the shaft to carry the conventional slip ring/brush assembly. A circular brush is mounted on the housing of the slip ring/brush assembly concentric with the shaft and facing the flat slip ring. An electrically conductive spring urges the circular brush into contact with the flat slip ring and provides a low impedance ground from the rotatable unit to the housing of the slip ring/brush assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1981
    Assignee: General Dynamics, Pomona Division
    Inventor: Marvin W. Shores
  • Vacuum curing tool for composite materials
    Patent number: 4280804
    Abstract: A vacuum tool for a vacuum bagging curing operation comprising a base on which is placed a one piece vacuum bag comprising a top sheet with a peripheral sealing means attached thereto which cooperate to seal the bag in a zipper-like fashion, thus enclosing workpiece therein for the vacuum curing operation. A vacuum manifold is attached to the base to connect the tool to a vacuum pump to create a vacuum between the base and bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1981
    Assignee: General Dynamics
    Inventor: Charles L. Holland
  • Plug plating
    Patent number: 4278511
    Abstract: Method for producing fine line circuit boards utilizing both sides thereof, with through-hole plating wherein the board is drilled and conductive metal clad, the surface is passivated and the holes and the surfaces are electroplated to a desired thickness. Thereafter the surface electroplate is peeled off the board, leaving the plating in the holes. Subsequently the board is masked in a desired pattern, etched to remove the cladding and form a circuit, and then the mask is removed and solder is applied to the plated holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1980
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1981
    Assignee: General Dynamics, Pomona Division
    Inventor: William P. Dugan
  • Superconducting magnetic coil
    Patent number: 4277768
    Abstract: A superconducting coil, suitable for generating a magnetic field within a nuclear reactor, wherein a structurally continuous disk helix is utilized to carry a plurality of parallel superconductor windings thereon. The structure provides an improved support to the superconductor windings to more positively prevent stresses or small movements that would cause the superconductor to go normal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1981
    Assignee: General Dynamics Corporation
    Inventors: John E. Burgeson, Dennis W. Lieurance
  • Circulator in a stripline microwave transmission line circuit
    Patent number: 4276522
    Abstract: A circulator in a stripline microwave transmission line circuit that is disposed in a pattern of printed circuit conductors between a pair of facing dielectric material circuit boards having conductive ground planes on their exposed broad faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1981
    Assignee: General Dynamics
    Inventor: Leo E. Coerver
  • Jet tab control mechanism for thrust vector control
    Patent number: 4274610
    Abstract: A missile jet tab actuator system for a thrust vector control coupled to aerodynamic controlled surfaces is disclosed. The device removes roll information present in commands to the aerodynamic surfaces. Only pitch and yaw information is thus supplied to the thrust vector control jet tabs. In this disclosure, the roll information is removed by a gear and slotted sleeve system. The resulting pitch and yaw output is used to drive the thrust vector control jet tabs. No separate set of independently powered actuators for such tabs is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1981
    Assignee: General Dynamics, Pomona Division
    Inventor: Thomas W. Bastian
  • Three-dimensional measurement of radiant energy scattering characteristics with a turntable-type scanning interferometer
    Patent number: 4274048
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring radiant energy scattering characteristics of a test panel of dielectric material over a sphere are disclosed. The test panel is supported on a turntable at a position on the axis of the turntable. The turntable has a first antenna radially mounted thereon for rotation therewith and directed toward the position of the supported test panel. A second antenna is mounted for selective positioning along a circular arc within a plane that includes the axis of the turntable, which arc extends at least ninety degrees from said axis, wherein the second antenna is radially directed toward the position of a test panel that is axially supported on the turntable at all positions along said arc. The test panel support is rotated with respect to the turntable to selectively position the test panel at a predetermined incidence angle with respect to the first antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1981
    Assignee: General Dynamics Corporation, Electronics Division
    Inventors: Gus P. Tricoles, Eugene L. Rope
  • Aerodynamic control mechanism for thrust vector control
    Patent number: 4272040
    Abstract: A rocket thrust vector control system including jet tabs and aerodynamic control surfaces is disclosed. The control system removes roll information present in commands to the aerodynamic surfaces and provides only pitch and yaw information to the jet tabs for the thrust vector control. The roll information is removed by a geared summing mechanism. The resulting pitch and yaw output is used to drive the thrust vector control jet tabs. The same powered actuators are used for both the aerodynamic control surfaces and the jet tabs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1981
    Assignee: General Dynamics, Pomona Division
    Inventors: Thomas W. Bastian, Garry T. Lacy, John J. Vink