Patents Examined by Christopher K. Montgomery
  • Patent number: 5713150
    Abstract: A firearm with a firing mechanism having a hammer, a trigger, a semi-automatic disconnector, an automatic sear, and an electro-mechanical movement mechanism for moving the automatic sear. The trigger and semi-automatic disconnector can be used to fire the firearm in a semi-automatic firing mode. The electro-mechanical movement mechanism can control release of the hammer by the automatic sear, but only after a first firing of the firearm by release of the hammer from a mechanical interlock with the trigger. The electro-mechanical movement mechanism has an actuator attached to a piezoelectric member. The piezoelectric member moves the actuator to move the automatic sear between a hammer holding position and a hammer release position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Defense Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: George D. Ealovega
  • Patent number: 5711103
    Abstract: A bipod mounting assembly for attaching a bipod to the forearm stock portion of a firearm, which includes a mounting yoke adapted to quickly and easily attach to the swivel stud connector mounted to the forearm stock portion of the firearm. The mounting yoke is adapted to receive a mounting block thereover, with the mounting block being attached to the mounting yoke to thus attach the mounting block to the forearm stock portion of the fire arm. A bipod mounting frame that includes a pair of extensible telescoping legs is releasably attachable to the mounting block by a quick-release locking catch to enable the quick attachment/detachment of the legs of the bipod from the mounting block, and thus the firearm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Inventor: Da Keng
  • Patent number: 5712441
    Abstract: A land-mine search-and-removal device mounted on a vehicle, especially a military tank. A framework (1) can be attached to the front of the vehicle (KP) by a coupling (2 & 2.1). Several sensors (3.1, 3.2, 3.3, & 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Firma Wegmann & Co.
    Inventor: Peter Grunewald
  • Patent number: 5712442
    Abstract: A method for propelling a projectile by applying a high power pulse of electrical current to a metal fuel element (of Al, Al--Li, or Al--Mg) causing the element to explode dispersing molten metal fuel into water with which it reacts to rapidly generate hydrogen gas at high pressure; the hydrogen gas is used to push the projectile. After the peak current is reached, an inductive electrical energy source drives the electrical current into the molten metal fuel/water mixture thus driving the reaction to completion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Woodrow W. Lee, Richard D. Ford
  • Patent number: 5712443
    Abstract: A shoulder-launched multiple-purpose assault weapon having a modified spotter rifle with a top-mounted rocket launcher tube is provided. The spotter rifle forms the base structure of the weapon and all weapon controls are located on the spotter rifle. The spotter rifle has several dual-function mechanisms which perform the combined functions of assembly and safing, bolt-locking back and cartridge ejecting, simultaneous adjustment of both open and optical sights, firing, selectively, of both the spotter round and the rocket round. The combination of these dual-firing mechanisms provides a lighter weight, better-balanced and smaller weapon. The reduction in parts count improves reliability and lowers cost. Other improved features include an adjustable spotter rifle barrel used to match the boresight of the rocket tube and an improved locking mechanism. A dual function trigger assembly operated two sears from a single trigger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Michael Canaday, Fred Watson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5708230
    Abstract: A method for ocean surface delivery of ordnance and clearing of explosive mines and obstacles from a navigable sea channel includes the step of providing quantities of ordnance adapted to survive impact and prolonged immersion in sea water and to arm in response to release from a mobile ocean surface vehicle and to pressure actuation upon submersion to a desired depth in sea water and then to detonate in response to receiving a preselected signal transmitted to the ordnance from a standoff location. The method also includes the step of delivering the quantities of ordnance from a mobile ocean surface vehicle toward multiple sites in a navigable sea channel containing obstacles and explosive mines therein so as to cause arming of the ordnance followed by impact thereof with the navigable sea channel and submersion and emplacement thereof at the multiple sites in the navigable sea channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Robert C. Woodall, Jr., Felipe A. Garcia, John Horton, William Jones
  • Patent number: 5708229
    Abstract: A gun launched rocket motor is provided with a filler material to fill all f the free volume in the rocket with a void-free incompressible "filler". The described filler material is selected from a solid, semi-solid, or liquid having many properties closely comparable to the rocket propellant, especially match the density, chemical compatibility, coefficient of thermal expansion, and thermal stability. The filler material functions to provide the required physical support to various propellants to survive gun launch. A preferred filler material is a completely fluorinated organic material which is a liquid which is compatible with various solid rocket propellants and can readily be ejected from the chamber by pressurization from conventional igniters or combustible cords such as Rapid Deflagrating Cord, RDC. These completely fluorinated perfluoro compounds, which are designated as C5-18 compounds, are marketed as Fluorinert Brand Electronic Liquids by 3M Corporation, St. Paul, Minn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Robert E. Betts, Samuel Zeman
  • Patent number: 5703314
    Abstract: A countermeasure system, adapted for use on board an aircraft, for confus an incoming missile as to the location and heading of the aircraft. The countermeasure system generates for each side of the aircraft at least two infrared energy images which are projected onto the aircraft's fuselage and then swept across the aircraft's fuselage to confuse the incoming missile's infrared seeker. Each infrared energy image is generated by at least two lasers operating at different frequencies within the infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum. A beam combiner combines the beams of infrared energy from each laser forming a single collimated beam of infrared energy having multiple frequencies which is then directed to a beam former. The beam former spreads the collimated beam of infrared energy which it then directs to a scanner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Delbert Brent Meeker
  • Patent number: 5700130
    Abstract: This device embodies a centrifugal compressor secured to a joint-carrier disk secured to an upstream flange of the rotor disk to be cooled. The recompressed air is ejected through channels near the roots of the blades of the disk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Societe National d'Etude et de Construction de Moterus d'Aviation S.N.E.C.M.A.
    Inventors: Andre M. Barbot, Jacques E. J. Caruel, Marcel R. Soligny
  • Patent number: 5700131
    Abstract: An internally cooled turbine blade for a gas turbine engine is modified at the leading and trailing edges to include a dynamic cool air flowing radial passageway with an inlet at the root and a discharge at the tip feeding a plurality of radially spaced film cooling holes in the airfoil surface. Replenishment holes communicating with the serpentine passages radially spaced in the inner wall of the radial passage replenish the cooling air lost to the film cooling holes. The discharge orifice is sized to match the backflow margin to achieve a constant film hole coverage throughout the radial length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth B. Hall, Robert J. McClelland, Thomas A. Auxier
  • Patent number: 5698810
    Abstract: A convertible ballistic optimizing system includes a main body portion adjustably secured to the muzzle end of a firearm. A retainer, such as a lock nut, is utilized to secure the main body portion in a particular axially position to change vibrational characteristics of the firearm barrel so that the bullet exits the muzzle end of the firearm when the barrel is undergoing the least amount of transverse movement. The main body portion includes a plurality of apertures that function as a muzzle brake when a weight element is attached to the outlet end of the main body portion. Alternatively, in place of the weight, a sleeved end piece can be secured to the outlet end of the main body portion to cover the apertures, thereby disabling the muzzle brake feature, without adversely affecting the inherent accuracy of the firearm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Browning Arms Company
    Inventor: Clyde E. Rose
  • Patent number: 5697180
    Abstract: A collapsible and portable gun stand table comprising a table having a tabletop with top and bottom surfaces and at least one channel opening formed in the tabletop. An L-shaped, firearm support assembly is provided having a horizontal section and a vertical section wherein the horizontal section is used for supporting a firearm and the vertical section extends through the channel opening. In addition, there is a gear housing for supporting the firearm support assembly on the tabletop and being movable within the channel opening to allow for lateral, vertical, and rotational movement of the firearm support assembly relative to the tabletop. There is also a plurality of adjustable less pivotally attached to the tabletop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Inventor: Joseph Morizio
  • Patent number: 5698812
    Abstract: A destructive device containing a thermite-type composition having a core burning configuration. The device comprises a housing having a top, a bottom, and a thermally insulated liner to maximize the thermal effectiveness of an ignition. The bottom has a circumferential skirt and defines one orifice therein for directing the expulsion of the thermite-type-composition upon ignition, the top has vents which together with the bottom orifice and skirt balance the escape of gas and prevent the device from moving during ignition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Eugene Song
  • Patent number: 5697181
    Abstract: An L-shaped bracket having holes and slots for adaptable attachment to gun racks used on All Terrain Vehicles. The bracket being rotatable in the horizonal plane thereby allowing for gun rotation to any position relative to the vehicle. The bracket further allowing adjustment of the rack in the vertical plane thus providing for gun elevation and depression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Inventor: Kevin D. Savant
  • Patent number: 5696347
    Abstract: A fuzing system adapted for use by a guided missile to generate a detonation signal for a warhead carried by the missile. The missile has a seeker/tracker to track, and direct the missile towards, a target. The seeker/tracker has: a seeker, gimballed with respect to the body of the missile, for producing a signal representative of the angular deviation between the target and the missile; and, a ranging system for producing a signal representative of a range between the target and the missile. The fuzing system, in response to the range signals, produces a time-to-go signal, t.sub.go, where t.sub.go, related to the range between the missile and the target divided by the rate of change in such range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Joseph L. Sebeny, Jr., Aaron T. Spettel, F. Taft Murray
  • Patent number: 5690473
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine turbine blade and method of manufacture includes an airfoil having pressure and suction sides joined together at leading and trailing edges. The airfoil further includes a supply channel for receiving compressed air, and has an elongate recess disposed in at least one of the pressure and suction sides which is separated from the supply channel by a partition. The partition includes a plurality of spaced apart flow metering holes disposed in flow communication with the supply channel. A transpiration strip is fixedly joined to the airfoil in the recess and spaced from the partition to define a plenum for receiving the compressed air from the metering holes. The transpiration strip is pervious for channeling the compressed air from the plenum in a blanket of film cooling boundary layer air therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: David Max Kercher
  • Patent number: 5691499
    Abstract: Multiple bridgewires are distributed through the length of the elongated tubular igniter of an automotive vehicle passenger side inflator. Upon receipt of an electrical stimulus the bridgewires ignite sensitive booster charges which ignite ignition powder within the igniter tube at the multiple distributed bridgewire locations. The use of this system eliminates the need for high velocity pyrotechnics in the ignition system to ignite the inflator gas generant within acceptable time constraints when the tubular igniter is ignited from one end by an initiator, and replaces the squib initiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Morton International, Inc.
    Inventors: Darrin L. Johnson, David W. Lindsey, Virginia E. Chandler, Robert D. Taylor
  • Patent number: 5691497
    Abstract: The invention relates to a self-loading grenade launcher with a cartridge belt feed which conveys a cartridge with pawls engaging in the cartridge belt of a cartridge belt. An inertia bolt runs forward along a path from a release position against the cartridge chamber under the force of springs and is fitted so as to slide the cartridge conveyed from the cartridge belt by the pawls into the cartridge chamber during this forward movement. A control system coupled to the inertia bolt and the slides converts the forward and recoil movement of the bolt into the transverse alternating movement of the slides. A firing device comprises a firing pin, tensioned by a percussion spring. A housing secured to the cartridge chamber extends along the bolt path and partially surrounds it, the longitudinal axis of which continues the central axis of the cartridge chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: Heckler & Koch
    Inventors: Berthold Weichert, Ernst Wossner, Gerhard Gielke, Jurgen Gablowski
  • Patent number: 5690472
    Abstract: A turbine airfoil has a mesh cooling hole arrangement which includes first and second pluralities of cooling holes formed within the interior structure of the side walls of the airfoil so as to extend between and along but not intersect spaced internal and external surfaces of the side walls extending between leading and trailing edge portions of the airfoil. The cooling holes of each plurality extend generally parallel to one another. The cooling holes of the first and second pluralities intersect so as to define a plurality of spaced apart internal solid nodes in the side walls having pairs of opposite sides interconnected by pairs of opposite corners. The spaced nodes define a multiplicity of hole portions of the cooling holes extending between and along opposite sides of adjacent nodes and a plurality of flow intersections interconnecting the hole portions of the cooling holes and being disposed between the corners of adjacent nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Ching-Pang Lee
  • Patent number: 5687501
    Abstract: A sealing apparatus which may be mounted on multi or single barreled guns disclosed to provide a watertight seal on an underwater gun. The sealing apparatus comprises a sealing plate connected to a gun barrel and a muzzle seal which fit on the muzzle of the gun barrel and frictionally engages the sealing plate. The sealing plate includes a firing aperture which aligns with the gun barrel when the gun is fired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Joseph J. Stace, Laurence M. Dean, Ivan N. Kirschner