Patents Examined by David H. Brown
  • Patent number: 5337648
    Abstract: A countermass for a recoilless weapon which is intended to be placed behind the propellant charge of the weapon projectile and intended to depart together with the propellant gases that exit from the rearward end of the weapon when the projectile is projected forward. The countermass includes a plurality of mutually sequential and separated countermass bodies, each of which has a gas throughflow passage. The throughflow passage in the countermass bodies is sized to have a larger inlet area in bodies at the forward end of the countermass and gradually smaller inlet area in bodies at the rearward end of the countermass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Forsvarets Forskningsanstalt
    Inventor: Anders N. Brage
  • Patent number: 5335488
    Abstract: A cable is provided for attacking rotating wing aircraft by breaking and/or fouling rotor blades and/or blade pitch adjusting mechanisms. The cable comprises a stretchable core and shallow helix angle outer strands. A high hysteresis rubber or rubber-like material occupies the spaces between the strands and the core. The high hysteresis material prevents the cable from bouncing off the rotor blades when coming into contact therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Inventor: Richard F. Honigsbaum
  • Patent number: 5335521
    Abstract: A grip lock assembly for firearms includes a lock having a locked position preventing operation of the firearm, and an unlocked position permitting operation of the firearm. A portion of the lock, when in the locked position, is adapted to operatively engage a portion of the firing mechanism of the firearm to prevent operation of the firearm. The invention is quickly installed by replacing an existing grip of the firearm with grips according to the invention. The invention can be utilized with a number of different types of locks. A ratchet-type combination lock suitable for use with the invention is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Inventor: Frank Brooks
  • Patent number: 5335437
    Abstract: A gun hammer has a striking surface on the hammer's face which automatically withdraws inside the body of the hammer when pressure is applied by the gun user's finger or thumb to the hammer's spur. The possibility of the firearm accidentally discharging during decocking is eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Inventor: Frank B. Andersen
  • Patent number: 5333403
    Abstract: A muzzle loading rifle has a cylindrical primer holder having a transverse hole therethrough which is provided to retain a primer charge. The primer holder may be rotated from a firing position to a safety position while retaining the charge enclosed within the receiver of the rifle. The back end of a breach plug engages the primer holder and an annular ring at the back of the breach plug is sized to be shearable by the breach plug at a predetermined pressure for providing an additional safety feature for the rifle. Shearing the breach plug annular ring is engineered to absorb substantial excess pressure if present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Inventor: Ralph D. Peifer
  • Patent number: 5333552
    Abstract: A controlled expanding small caliber bullet is disclosed which comprises a partition-type bullet with an empty hollow point, a rear cavity filled with a dense core and a high strength insert between the core and the body in the forward portion of the rear cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Assignee: Olin Corporation
    Inventors: Alan J. Corzine, Gerald E. Eberhart
  • Patent number: 5333529
    Abstract: A firearm muzzle brake having an outer sleeve with holes alignable with corresponding openings in a member telescoped in the sleeve to jointly conduit discharge gases in a direction to oppose the recoil in the firearm. The sleeve is rotatably mounted on the inner member so that it is movable to a position blocking the gases from flowing in the recoil opposing direction. A detent releasably locks the sleeve in either position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Assignee: Rott & Company
    Inventor: James W. Brockman
  • Patent number: 5333528
    Abstract: A multiple missile ejection system (10) by which first and second missiles (14) and (16) are stored in a single launch tube (12). Each missile is ejected by a gas bag. In a particular embodiment, two gas bags are used. The first gas bag (18) is mounted between the first and second missiles (14) and (16) respectively. The second gas bag (20) is mounted between the second missile (16) and an end of the launch tube. When deflated, the first gas bag (18) has a longitudinal aperture (28) through the center thereof which allows for the ejection of the second missile (16) by the second gas bag (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: Ralph H. Klestadt, Richard R. Finn
  • Patent number: 5331894
    Abstract: A detonation manifold (30) for use with a separation device comprising an expansion member (10) disposed in a frangible joint (24), the expansion member comprising a flattened containment tube (20) having in cross section an oblong configuration having a major axis and a minor axis and having therein a detonation fuse (16). The manifold comprises a body portion (31) having at least one initiation port (32) for receiving an initiator device and at least one coupling flange (38) mounted on the body portion for engaging the expansion member and having a flange bore (40) for receiving the detonation fuse (16), the flange bore (40) being in detonation communication with the initiation port (32). The coupling flange (38) has in cross section an oblong configuration having a major axis and a minor axis and is dimensioned and configured so that the containment tube (20) can be flared for receiving the flange without significantly deforming the oblong configuration of the containment tube (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1994
    Assignee: The Ensign-Bickford Company
    Inventors: Steven G. Wassell, Steven L. Renfro, Harry W. Densmore, Scott T. Reeves
  • Patent number: 5331897
    Abstract: A decoy device for deployment in a marine environment to decoy heat seeking issiles from their intended target. The device consists of a canister of fuel and means for igniting the fuel. The canister is designed such that the operation of the device creates a spray of burning fuel and a resultant large radiation area decoy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: George S. Handler
  • Patent number: 5329839
    Abstract: An explosive powder charge operated setting tool includes an axially extending driving piston (2) slidably guided in a piston guide (1). The piston guide (1) has a trailing or rear end base part (3) penetrated axially by a through channel (4) which opens in the driving direction of the setting tool into a recess (7) in the base part (3). The trailing end face of the driving piston (2) facing the base part (3) has a centrally arranged annular-shaped depression (10). In axial section the depression (10) is semicircularly-shaped. Depression (10) and recess (7) serve to reverse and direct unburned portions of the explosive powder charge into a hot zone in the base part (3) so that the unburned portions are subsequently ignited and do not foul the setting tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: Hilti Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Gerhard Ehmig
  • Patent number: 5329854
    Abstract: A projectile for the dispersal of a load with time delay after firing from a launching tube (1) with hot gas under pressure is described. It comprises a cylindrical casing (2) comprising a cross wall (3) on one side of which there is a first pressure chamber (7) limited outwardly by an external side wall (4), provided with a supply opening (5) for the hot gas. The cross wall (3) limits on its other side a second pressure chamber (9) which is formed by the casing and a piston (8) axially movable in the casing, which stands in connection with said load (10). A throttled gas connection (11)is provided between the first and second pressure chambers (7, 9). The piston (8), under the effect of a pressure built up in the second pressure chamber, is arranged to perform an axial movement, firing the load (10) out of the casing (2), but not until the pressure has reached a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Inventors: Sven Komstadius, Soren Hanberger, Hans Ellstrom
  • Patent number: 5327835
    Abstract: A coupling device (10) for coupling a detonator cap (22a, 22b) with a detonating cord (82) features a sleeve member (12) having a longitudinal bore (18) extending therethrough for receiving a detonator cap (22a, 22b) in one end and a detonating cord (82) in the other. The coupling device (10) includes a nut member (14) having an aperture for receiving the cord (82) and having a compression surface (34) for bearing against a compression portion defined below when the nut member (14) is secured onto the sleeve member (12). The nut member (14) may be secured to the sleeve member (12) with its aperture aligned with the bore (18). A compression portion (31) associated with the sleeve member (12) responds to pressure from the compression surface (34) of the nut member (14) for gripping a cord (82) when the nut member (14) is secured onto the sleeve member ( 12). Thus, a cord can be securely disposed in detonation signal transmission relation to a cap without having special coupling hardware, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: The Ensign-Bickford Company
    Inventors: Craig F. Adams, Richard J. Pebbles
  • Patent number: 5327809
    Abstract: The invention provides a canister which holds two missiles, which is the same size as prior art canisters that held a single missile. The inventive canister provides improved structural strength, simpler operation for the closure and electronics and an improved shock isolation system. The improved structure uses tubes and a lattice structure. The closure is hinged and uses gravity or the missile blast to complete closing. The electronics uses a flip flop switch. The shock isolation system utilizes urethane pads with apertures or air pockets and a silicon coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: FMC Corporation
    Inventors: Philip L. Matteson, Stan P. Bovee, Aye Kung
  • Patent number: 5325784
    Abstract: An electronic fuze package and method includes a left casing comprising a substantially flat left surface having left casing recesses and a right casing comprising a substantially flat right surface having right casing recesses. The combination of the left casing and the right casing defines a fuze casing for the mounting of fuze components. The fuze package also includes plated-on electrical tracks on the left casing, including component connections immediately adjacent to the casing recesses for electrically coupling the fuze components in a fuze circuit. The fuze package can be made of thermoplastic left and right casings which can be epoxy-glued together. Copper can be used for the plated-on electrical tracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Monty W. Bai, Danny E. Minks
  • Patent number: 5325618
    Abstract: A safety device for a rifle, or other elongate firearm, includes a first part for removably attaching the stock to the chest of a user and a cord for supporting the butt portion below the user's chest. The firearm can, thus, be supported in a safe, substantially vertical orientation to allow the user's hands to be free. The stock portion is easily released to allow the rifle to be operated with the cord remaining attached and providing additional safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Inventor: Harold W. Turner
  • Patent number: 5325758
    Abstract: The invention is a blank firing attachment for use on a gas operated automatic rifle or light machine gun. The device restricts the exit of gases from the rifle barrel when a blank cartridge is fired, thus retaining sufficient gas pressure in the barrel to actuate the rifle's automatic firing mechanism and permit blank cartridges to be fired automatically or semiautomatically. The device has a body adapted to be attached to the muzzle compensator of a rifle and a stem having an axial cavity. The stem is adapted to seal against the inner bore of the compensator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Inventors: David W. Compton, Thomas Hortobagyi
  • Patent number: 5326224
    Abstract: A jet engine component includes a body having a wall portion with an external surface exposed to hot gas flow and an internal surface exposed to a cooling air flow. The engine component incorporates an arrangement of cooling holes defined through the wall portion between the external and internal surfaces thereof to permit flow of cooling air from the hollow interior through the wall portion to the exterior of the component. Each cooling hole includes at least one flow inlet at the internal surface of the wall for receiving the cooling air flow, at least a pair of flow outlets at the external surface of the wall for discharging the cooling air flow, and at least a pair of flow branches extending through the wall portion and between the flow inlet and the flow outlets for permitting passage of the cooling air flow from the flow inlet to the flow outlets. In one V-shaped configuration, the flow branches merge and intersect with one another at the flow inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ching-Pang Lee, Theodore T. Thomas, Jr., Anne M. Isburgh
  • Patent number: H1326
    Abstract: A system is described for providing means by which the flow in a fluid such s water in a fluid flow loop can be accurately controlled to undergo user defined transients. Besides, the system allows for velocity variations over a wide range of velocities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Paul J. Lefebvre
  • Patent number: H1329
    Abstract: A threaded connection with improved fatigue-life useful for connecting adjacent sections of a pipe string subject to bending, tensile, and compressive stresses such as a drill collar string is disclosed. The connection comprises a pin member which is threadedly engageable with a corresponding box member. In the preferred embodiment, the inventive connection is designed to have bending strength ratio ("BSR") of about 3.20 or greater, and more preferably, in a range between about 3.20 and about 4.00. The preferred thread form of the connection is a V-type thread form having two flank angles of 30 degrees and a 0.038 inch root radius. Other design features may be used in combination with the threaded connection to further improve the connection's fatigue-life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: Exxon Production Research Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Bailey, Richard P. McBride, Mark C. Moyer, James B. Day