Patents Assigned to Lockheed Martin Vought Systems
  • Patent number: 5852492
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a range image and an intensity image of a target field is disclosed. The range image and the intensity image are fused into a single image that contains range and intensity information. In one embodiment, only a single range band is illuminated with colors in the fused image. This range band can be scrolled throughout the fused image to detect three dimensional features more clearly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Vought Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Donald W. Nimblett, Bruno J. Evans, Gary K. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 5834684
    Abstract: A penetrator having a plurality of stacked penetrator segments is disclosed. Each penetrator segment has a nose portion and a rear portion. The rear portion of each penetrator segment has a rearwardly opening cavity therein and a plurality of fins pivotally mounted thereon. The penetrator segments are stacked such that the cavity of the forwardmost penetrator segment contains the nose portion of the following penetrator segment, and the following penetrator segments are similarly positioned such that the nose portion of each following penetrator segment is positioned in the cavity of the immediately preceding penetrator segment. The fins of each penetrator segment are restrained in a stowed position when the cavity of the respective penetrator segment contains the nose portion of a following penetrator segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Vought Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Robert J. Taylor
  • Patent number: 5829715
    Abstract: A mechanism (100) is disclosed for deploying wing air foils about mutually perpendicular axes. Air flow initiates deployment of the wings by causing pivoting motion of a T-joint fitting (112). Meshed gear teeth between the wing (122) and the elevation plate (108) also causes the elevation plate to pivot. The axis of pivotal motion of the elevation plate (108) and the T-joint fitting (112) are offset so that the gear teeth on the elevation plate (108) causes the wing to move from the folded position to the elevated position. A pair of wings are deployed simultaneously by use of a cross shaft (134) that interconnects the elevation plates (108) of each wing deployment apparatus. A hydraulic damper (146) can be operated by the cross shaft (134) to allow control of the rate of deployment of the wings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Vought Systems Corp.
    Inventor: John Edward Banks
  • Patent number: 5831581
    Abstract: A dual band monopulse radar antenna has a planar configuration and is divided into four quadrants. The antenna includes a circular plate with an array of slots formed in each quadrant. The slots are configured for operation at a first frequency, such as X-band. Four respective slot waveguide feeds are provided, one for each array of slots in each quadrant. A dielectric layer, such as Teflon, is mounted on the surface of the plate. Each quadrant of the antenna is provided with an array of microwave patch elements comprising a plurality of rows of patch elements fed by a microstrip line. Each array of microwave patch elements is fed by a waveguide. The antenna has eight waveguide couplers, two for each quadrant of the antenna with one waveguide feed in each quadrant for the slot array and one waveguide coupler in each array for the microwave patch element array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Vought Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Shaun M. Keough
  • Patent number: 5773831
    Abstract: An infrared detector element includes a metallic patch which is positioned on the surface of an upper contact layer. A multiple quantum well ("MQW") infrared sensitive structure is positioned between the first contact layer and a second contact layer. The conductive contact layers are transparent to infrared radiation. A groundplane which is reflective to infrared radiation is positioned adjacent the second contact layer. A resonant cavity is formed between the metallic patch and the groundplane. The thickness of this cavity is not greater than approximately one eighth of the wavelength of the incident infrared radiation within the cavity. The metallic patch functions to couple the incident infrared radiation into the resonant cavity wherein the E-field is oriented substantially normal to the plane of the MQW structure. A plurality of the detector elements can be used to form a single pixel and an array of the pixels can be used to form a complete infrared radiation imager.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Vought Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Austin John Brouns
  • Patent number: 5721461
    Abstract: An alternator includes a flywheel for storing kinetic energy. A motor generator, which includes permanent magnets mounted to a rotor, receives electrical power for accelerating the rotor to a high rotational velocity to store kinetic energy. The rotor is provided with coils, and each coil is connected to first and second conductors. The exterior portion of the rotor comprises the flywheel. Stator coils are mounted adjacent to coils of the rotor and electrical power is produced within the stator coils. The kinetic energy stored in the rotor flywheel can be transformed to electrical power through a first output which is the coils of the motor generator and can produce a second electrical output through the stator coils of the alternator. The primary application of such a dual power alternator is to produce a high power pulse for an electromagnetic gun, and to also provide averaging power to supplement the power from the main drive engine of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Vought Systems
    Inventor: Robert Joseph Taylor
  • Patent number: 5691502
    Abstract: A plurality of objects is deployed in generally radial directions at low velocities in order to achieve a predetermined pattern of the deployed objects. The device has a metal inner wall member (20, 120) having a plurality of annular cylindrical segments of differing outside diameters, an explosive body (22, 122) of low velocity explosive, and a plurality of arrays (40, 140) positioned coaxially with and exteriorly of the explosive body (22, 122) and spaced along the length of the explosive body (22, 122). Each array (40, 140) comprises a plurality of objects (28). The explosive body (22, 122) can be in the form of a plurality of annular sections which provide the objects (28) in each array with an amount of energy different from that provided to each of the objects in the adjacent array. An annular flange (32) can separate the forward end of the explosive body (22, 122) from a booster ring (66), or the booster ring (166) can be positioned within a central cavity of the inner wall member (120).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Vought Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Gerald Graves Craddock, Elmer C. Cruise
  • Patent number: 5653421
    Abstract: A fluid switch suitable for use as a fuel shut-off valve is disclosed. In one aspect, the fluid switch includes a housing defining a generally cylindrical bore and having an inlet port, an outlet port and a detent spring passage. A valve member having a spool portion and a detent portion is slidably disposed within the bore. The spool portion can selectively close or open the ports with respect to one another. A detent spring is inserted through the detent spring passage and across the bore to interfit with the detent portion of the valve member to maintain it in the open or closed position in the absence of control inputs. A solenoid core attached to the valve member and solenoid coils surrounding the housing may be provided for moving the valve member between the open and closed positions to operate the fluid switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Vought Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Steven James Ellzey