Patents Assigned to Simmonds Precision Products
  • Distributed structural characteristic detection system using a unidirectional acoustic waveguide
    Patent number: 5677489
    Abstract: Apparatus for acoustically analyzing a structure having distributed characteristics comprising a first acoustic waveguide for transmitting an acoustic signal through a portion of the structure, a second acoustic waveguide for receiving a reflected acoustic signature of the structure and transmitting the acoustic signature to a sensor; the sensor producing an output that corresponds to the acoustic signature. The apparatus and methods are particularly adaptable to detecting distributed structural characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventor: William Bert Spillman, Jr.
  • Portable optical fluid debris detector including cover and calibrating magnet
    Patent number: 5675249
    Abstract: Apparatus for detecting ferromagnetic debris in a fluid medium in a container includes a plug attachable to the container and having an associated magnetic field preferably produced by a permanent magnet. The plug is at least partly exposed to the fluid to capture debris in the fluid. The apparatus further includes a portable sensor for optically sensing the captured debris, with the sensor having a probe that is connectable to the plug. A method for using such apparatus is provided, and in general a method of detecting ferromagnetic particles in a fluid medium in a container includes the steps of: a) magnetically capturing particles from the fluid using a plug with the container, and b) interrogating the plug with light for captured particles using a portable probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Downing LaClair
  • Removable ultrasonic transducer with integral electrical disconnect
    Patent number: 5669262
    Abstract: An externally mounted transducer assembly for an ultrasonic liquid level measuring device that utilizes a piezoelectric crystal for generating ultrasonic pulses to be transmitted through a tank or the line containing a volume of liquid. Electrical conductors are formed integrally with the fuel tank for connecting the transducer to other components of the system. The wall of the tank is provided with an arrangement for removably attaching the transducer housing thereto. The tank is provided with electrical contacts that connect to the conductors that are integral with the tank. Also, electrical contacts in the transducer housing are connected to the transducer for providing current thereto. When the transducer housing is attached to the tank, the transducer is thereby connected to the measuring system circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick Lloyd Lichtenfels, II, Ralph Ernest Burt
  • Fluid gauging apparatus using integral electrical sensor and a stick gauge
    Patent number: 5627380
    Abstract: Apparatus for detecting fluid level in a container, comprises a housing adapted to be disposed in the container; a float with an associated magnetic element, the float position corresponding to fluid level in the container; a magnetostrictive sensor disposed inside the housing; and a stick gauge disposed inside the housing; the magnetostrictive sensor and the stick gauge each being operable to determine the float position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventor: David H. Crowne
  • Fluid gauging apparatus with inductive interrogation
    Patent number: 5602540
    Abstract: A gauging apparatus for fluid containers such as fuel tanks includes a capacitance disposed in the container that changes value based on the volume of fluid in the container; a first antenna disposed below an outer surface of the container and coupled to the capacitance; a second antenna magnetically coupled with the first antenna across a coreless gap; and a gauging circuit coupled to the second antenna and comprising an oscillator for applying an excitation signal at a number of different frequencies to the second antenna, and a signal processing circuit that detects current in the second antenna caused by the excitation signal and by current in the first antenna related to the capacitance value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1997
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products Inc.
    Inventor: William B. Spillman, Jr.
  • Structural analyzer using acousto-optic sensor
    Patent number: 5600133
    Abstract: An acousto-optic damage detector and locator uses acoustic energy propagated through a structure to modulate light transmitted through an optical fiber whereby the character of acoustic signals detected by the fiber varies according to the physical condition of the portion of the structure through which the pulses propagate to determine the existence, location and extent of faults within the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventor: William B. Spillman, Jr.
  • Embeddable device for contactless interrogation of sensors for smart structures
    Patent number: 5581248
    Abstract: Sensing device for a sensor embeddable in a structure comprising: an insulative substrate, a circuit pattern disposed on the substrate for interconnecting a plurality of electronic components, the circuit pattern comprising an inductive coil, the circuit pattern including pads for disposing components on the substrate and coupling the device to the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventors: William B. Spillman, Jr., Scott R. Durkee
  • Rotary transformer
    Patent number: 5572178
    Abstract: A rotary transformer for aircraft deicing apparatus, the transformer including a primary winding adjacent a laminated primary core, and a secondary winding adjacent a laminated secondary core; at least one of the cores being rotatable with respect to the other core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Becker, Michael J. Douglass, David B. Sweet
  • Optical fuel/air/water sensor and detector circuit
    Patent number: 5534708
    Abstract: A liquid sensing apparatus for a fuel tank comprises a first optical sensor for producing an output having a first state that corresponds to the first optical sensor being exposed to air and a second state that corresponds to the first optical sensor being exposed to fuel; a second optical sensor for producing an output having a first state that corresponds to the second optical sensor being exposed to air or water, and a second state that corresponds to the second optical sensor being exposed to fuel; and a circuit for detecting the first and second optical sensor output states. The sensor circuits can be accessed using a two wire only interface, and thermal stability can be achieved with the electronic circuit as shown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products Inc.
    Inventors: Sylvester M. Ellinger, Bruce R. Kline
  • Liquid gauging apparatus and remote sensor interrogation
    Patent number: 5530258
    Abstract: A liquid gauging system for a liquid container, the system comprising sensor means for producing a first electromagnetic signal that corresponds to liquid quantity in the container, and remote interrogation means for receiving the first electromagnetic signal and producing a system output that corresponds to the liquid quantity; the sensor means being energized by a second electromagnetic signal transmitted by the remote interrogation means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventor: David H. Crowne
  • Composite enclosure for electronic hardware
    Patent number: 5520976
    Abstract: The present invention contemplates a significant departure from known shielded enclosure designs by providing an enclosure for electronic modules, comprising walls made of composite material including conductive fibers for shielding the enclosure interior from electromagnetic radiation, and means for securely mounting at least one module inside the enclosure with a fastener means, the mounting means comprising composite material. The present invention further contemplates methods for making shielded enclosures and card guides for such enclosures that represent a significant improvement over known enclosure designs. This invention contemplates composite cold walls and composite fins. These composite fins and cold walls may be used alone or together in structures and enclosures which are useful in conducting heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products Inc.
    Inventors: William B. Giannetti, David G. Hess, Stuart J. McCord, Robert E. Rudd, III, Wei-Tei Shih
  • Composite shaft monitoring system
    Patent number: 5515041
    Abstract: A smart structure comprising a rotatable shaft, and a sensor integrated with the shaft, a resonant detector circuit integrated with the structure for detecting a sensor output, and an external exciter circuit; the detector circuit having first coil means and the exciter circuit having second coil means magnetically coupled to the first coil means when aligned across a gap; and control means exterior the shaft for producing an output that corresponds to the sensor output compensated for the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products Inc.
    Inventor: William B. Spillman, Jr.
  • Monitoring apparatus for rotating equipment dynamics for slow checking of alignment using plural angled elements
    Patent number: 5514952
    Abstract: Axial alignment detection apparatus for a shaft rotatable about an axis includes alignment indicating means rotatable by the shaft and comprising a plurality of detectable elements; and detector means for detecting the elements and alignment of the shaft as a function of the elements; the elements comprising at least one reference element and at least one alignment dependent element, wherein the reference and alignment elements have a detectable alignment dependent relationship to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products Inc.
    Inventor: James R. Parkinson
  • Monitoring apparatus for detecting axial position and axial alignment of a rotating shaft
    Patent number: 5508609
    Abstract: Axial alignment detection apparatus for a shaft rotatable about an axis includes alignment indicating means rotatable by the shaft and comprising a plurality of detectable elements; and detector means for detecting the elements and alignment of the shaft as a function of the elements; the elements comprising at least one reference element and at least one alignment dependent element, wherein the reference and alignment elements have a detectable alignment dependent relationship to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Product Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Parkinson, Herbert F. Gee
  • Apparatus and method for improving liquid gaging system using error compensation data
    Patent number: 5495745
    Abstract: Apparatus for improving the accuracy of a fuel gaging system already installed on an airplane of the type having a number of fuel level sensors that each produce an output signal that can be combined to determine fuel volume. The apparatus includes control means for energizing the sensors, receiving the sensor signals and calculating a first volume value. An attitude indicator may be provided that is connected to the control means and that produces signals corresponding to the attitude of the fuel level relative to the sensors; the control means includes memory means for storing volume measurement compensation data based on predetermined volume measurement errors that are a function of fuel volume, and attitude when the attitude indicator is used; the control means compensating the first volume value to produce a second fuel volume value that is more accurate than the uncompensated first volume value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Ivor Hughes
  • Real time auto-correlation filter method and apparatus
    Patent number: 5465227
    Abstract: An auto-correlation filter for increasing the signal-to-noise ratio in a signal having synchronous analog components to be detected and associated asynchronous noise components includes a circuit for inputting a plurality of cycles of the signal and noise components; a circuit for digitizing the signal and noise components over a time period that is a function of the time duration of each cycle; a circuit for storing for an n.sub.th cycle the digitized components at the end of the time period until the start of an n.sub.th +1 cycle; a circuit for converting the stored n.sub.th cycle digital components into a corresponding restored analog signal; and a circuit for summing the n.sub.th cycle restored analog signal with signal and noise components of the n.sub.th +1 cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott R. Durkee, Erik A. Fjerstad
  • Baffle assembly for ultrasonic liquid level measuring probe
    Patent number: 5456108
    Abstract: A baffle assembly for use in an ultrasonic system for measuring the level of a contained volume of liquid by calculating the density of the liquid by determining the dielectric constant thereof. The baffle assembly is located at the lower end of a stillwell located within the volume of liquid, The assembly includes a pair of concentric sleeves formed of electrically conductive material located to surround the lower end portion of the stillwell. The sleeves are uniformly radially spaced from one another so as to function as a capacitor so that the electrical capacitance between the respective opposed surfaces of the sleeves may be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert E. Birkett
  • Static torque measurement for rotatable shaft
    Patent number: 5456123
    Abstract: Apparatus for determining static torque on a rotatable shaft includes at least two elements that when coupled to the shaft have a torque dependent relationship to each other; a sensor for detecting the torque dependent relationship when the shaft is under static load; and means for rotating the sensor about the shaft under static load and through an arc that is less than a full rotation about the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventor: James R. Parkinson
  • Smart structure with non-contact power and data interface
    Patent number: 5440300
    Abstract: Embedded smart structures include active electronics which control and collect data from sensors and actuators and transmit data to the exterior of a body by electromagnetic antenna radiation to a conformal power and data interrogation interface. Multiple embedded smart structures are powered and interrogated by a network of conformal powering and interrogation units. Multiple embedded sensors each having an antenna with a defined narrow band resonant frequency are powered and interrogated by a single external powering and data interrogation antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventor: William B. Spillman, Jr.
  • Contactless interrogation of sensors for smart structures
    Patent number: 5433115
    Abstract: Apparatus for contactless interrogation of an sensor integrally disposed with a structure including a pair of coils for coupling signals across a gap between a sensing circuit having a sense coil and an interrogation circuit having an exciter coil connectable to a variable frequency supply, the sensing circuit comprising a circuit for changing current through the sense coil in relation to the sensor output; the interrogation circuit comprising a circuit for detecting current in the exciter coil induced by the sense coil current; and control means for determining the sensor output based on the exciter coil current compensated for the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventors: William B. Spillman, Jr., Scott R. Durkee