Patents Examined by Lulit Semunegus
  • Patent number: 6539871
    Abstract: A method for making a degradable practice mine including the steps of covering a flat work surface with a polyethylene sheet to serve as a release film, weighing out the materials in a ratio of 10 parts sand to 1 part polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), mixing 1 part PVA with 10 parts sand making a sand/PVA mixture, filling a mold with the sand/PVA mixture, consolidating the sand/PVA mixture to make a consolidated form in the shape of a mine, and heating the consolidated form to make a hardened mine form mimicking the shape and launching characteristics of a tactical mine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Alliant Techsystems Inc.
    Inventors: Scott A. Englar, Richard W. Rentfrow, Wesley G. Marquette, Robert E. Long
  • Patent number: 6536350
    Abstract: A propulsion-assisted projectile has a body, a cowl forming a combustion section and a nozzle section. The body has a fuel reservoir within a central portion of the body, and a fuel activation system located along the central axis of the body and having a portion of the fuel activation system within the fuel reservoir. The fuel activation system has a fuel release piston with a forward sealing member where the fuel release piston is adapted to be moved when the forward sealing member is impacted with an air flow, and an air-flow channel adapted to conduct ambient air during flight to the fuel release piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Harry E. Cartland, John W. Hunter
  • Patent number: 6536351
    Abstract: A warhead (1) having a warhead casing (2) that encloses an explosive charge (5). To ensure that, during the detonation of the explosive charge (5), the warhead (1) effects a rapid acceleration of the fragments flying in the flight direction, and a lesser acceleration of the fragments flying away laterally from the warhead, and/or generates a relatively intense lateral pressure wave, the charge has at least two different partial charges (7, 8-10) corresponding to the intended use of the warhead (1). The first partial charge (7), which is disposed in the region of the tip of the warhead (1), and comprises, for example, octogen (HMX), possesses a high detonation speed in order, when detonated, to accelerate heavy-metal fragments (preferably WSM spherical fragments) disposed in front of the partial charge very rapidly forward. In contrast, the second partial charge (8-10), which adjoins the rear of the first partial charge (7), is a far less costly charge, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Rheinmetall W & M GmbH
    Inventors: Jürgen Böcker, Paul Wanninger
  • Patent number: 6533220
    Abstract: A device for hanging a load on a helicopter has at least one load-bearing cable which has a first cable section, which is off-center in relation to a longitudinal axis of the helicopter, and a second off-center cable section located opposite. The load-bearing cable is connected to the helicopter, on the one hand, and to the load, on the other hand. Ends and of the load-bearing cable are fixedly attached to the helicopter, and the load-bearing cable is connected to the load in a manner in which it can be moved relative to the latter, such that the load can be displaced along the load-bearing cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: ecms Aviation Systems GmbH
    Inventor: Matthias Schuster
  • Patent number: 6530324
    Abstract: A munition incorporating a fuze mechanism adapted to prevent momentary disarming of the mechanism once same is placed in an armed state. The fuze mechanism incorporates a fuze housing having a slide member movable slidably longitudinally between an unarmed position and an armed position. In an unarmed position, a firing pin tip of an arming screw engages a lock post disposed within an opening in the slide member to hold the slide member in the unarmed position. When the arming screw is unscrewed during airborne deployment of the munition, the firing pin tip is withdrawn from the lock post. This enables a spring to urge the slide member into a laterally extended position. As the slide member moves into its laterally extended position, the lock post drops partially out of the slide member into abutting engagement with a bottom cover of the fuze mechanism, thus preventing the slide member from moving back towards its unarmed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2003
    Assignee: KDI Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael F. Steele, William Marc Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6523477
    Abstract: A warhead assembly includes a penetrating casing having a forward nose portion and an generally cylindrical aft portion opposite said nose portion. A closure ring is disposed in said aft portion, a vent also being provided in said aft portion. The warhead casing is filled with a predetermined level of explosive material. Preferably the explosive composition contain reduced amounts of explosive material and a strong oxidizer. The warhead assembly possesses superior penetration and blast performance, as well as superior Insensitive Munitions characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: George W. Brooks, Eric E. Roach
  • Patent number: 6516726
    Abstract: A device for releasing gas from a vessel drives a piston with a propellant charge that can be ignited by an ignition device. A housing accommodates the piston, the propellant charge and the ignition device. The housing is formed from at least two housing half shells made of plastic material and a load-absorbing sleeve enclosing the housing half shells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Martin Specht
  • Patent number: 6513273
    Abstract: A safety device for a automatic pistol, which safety device for a pistol is comprised of a safety pin (1) housed in a recessed hole (16) of the slide (15), which safety pin can assume a first position in which the gun is unlocked, and a second position in which the gun is locked, composed of a cylindrical head (2) provided with a notch (9) made according to a chord of the respective circumference externally bounded by a convex surface (3) in the central part of which there is a hole (4) from the head (2) of which a cylindrical body (5) provided with a helical groove (6) adjacent the head (2) projects inwardly, two positioning slots (7) and a flat recess (8) parallel to the axis thereof that extends from practically half of its length as far as its end opposite the head (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Forjas Taurus S.A.
    Inventor: Nilton da Silveira
  • Patent number: 6513437
    Abstract: A detonator device and assembly for the initiating a plurality of signal transmission lines with a pressure impulse. The detonator device comprising a detonator casing having a signal receiving end and a firing end. The firing end of the detonator device being substantially shaped to conform with the pressure impulse initiation therein. The firing end having a contact wall of substantially uniform thickness for contacting a plurality of signal transmission lines in a compatible connector element and transmitting a pressure impulse thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Orica Explosives Technology Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: Sek K. Chan, Raymond Carriere, John T. Reid
  • Patent number: 6508178
    Abstract: The product includes a self-propelled aerial pyrotechnic device and an upright launch tube for the device. The device is closely confined within the launch tube so as to be maintained in an essentially truly vertical orientation in preparation for launch. The device itself comprises a body containing pyrotechnic display material and an engine that serves to propel the body when ignited. A stabilizing base, preferably integrally molded from synthetic resinous material, is attached to the lower end of the body and is in the nature of a framework having a plurality of symmetrically disposed, long legs interconnected at various locations by strut structure. The engine is received within a socket at the upper end of the stabilizing base and is adhered to interior surfaces of the legs to provide a secure connection between the body and the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Inventor: Gregory P. Shelton
  • Patent number: 6508026
    Abstract: A rifle scope having a power adjustment bezel and a distance adjustment bezel, both bezels being rotatable to alter the power and distance of the scope, respectively. Both bezels comprise a rearwardly facing indicia ring that is visible from the rearward end of the scope so as to permit a reading of the scope power and distance settings without removing the scope from the aiming or shooting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Simmons Outdoor Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Uppiano, Rich Spelhaug
  • Patent number: 6505793
    Abstract: A bearing and control system to execute flaring and curved flight manoeuvres of a load-bearing paraglider (1) with a parachute (2) with trailing edges (9, 9a, 9b) to execute the manoeuvre, whereby control lines (10) connected to trailing edges are rolled onto an unrolling device (16, 172), with a load unit (3) and with an unrolling device (12a, 173) to unroll lift webs (174) wound on it to lower the load unit (3), whereby the trailing edges (9, 9a, 9b) are moved to execute a manoeuvre by the weight of the load unit (3), and a gear unit (171) and a brake (178, 179) are between the control lines (10) and the load unit (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2003
    Assignee: EADS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Hans-Jürgen Schwarzler
  • Patent number: 6502514
    Abstract: A multi-ignition cartridge and associated methods for use with a firearm are provided. The cartridge preferably includes a casing having an interior cavity which at least partially encloses at least one projectile. Chances of misfire and cold fire are substantially reduced by including in the casing a plurality of chambers. Each of the chambers preferably is in fluid communication with the cavity and containing an ignitable substance to ignite a main charge in the casing to propel the projectile from the casing. The ignitable substance in a chamber is ignited by striking a strike plate that can be positioned in contact with the casing. Related methods are provided for propelling the projectile of a firearm by simultaneously increasing pressure in multiple chambers of a cartridge casing so as to ignite in at least one chamber the ignitable substance contained in each so as to ignite a main charge that propels the projectile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Inventor: Christopher A. Holler
  • Patent number: 6502515
    Abstract: A method of providing a high-explosive projectile with desired areas of fragmentation includes the following steps: securing a steel plate component in a circumferentially extending recess in the outer surface of a projectile body; directing an energy beam to outer surface portions of the steel plate component; heating, by the energy beam, narrow zones to a temperature above the melting temperature of the steel plate component to a predetermined depth thereof; and cooling the heated zones for effecting structural metallurgical changes in the steel plate component for obtaining the desired areas of fragmentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Rheinmetall W & M GmbH
    Inventors: Helmut Burckhardt, Walter Simon, Thomas Heitmann
  • Patent number: 6499405
    Abstract: A pyrotechnic device of connection and delay between detonating cords and/or between an igniter and detonating cords, including a cavity divided up in two parts, the internal walls of which are coated with a very flammable material; a means for blocking one or several detonating cords in each of the parts; and a means for communicating between the two parts. The two parts are separated by a partition and the communication means includes a track containing a slowly and regularly burning material, extending outside the cavity walls between openings communicating with each of the two cavity parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Inventor: Francesco Ambrico
  • Patent number: 6497064
    Abstract: The butt stock of a firearm and the butt stock assembly are held together magnetically, such that it requires and adult level of grip to separate them. This provides a strong and dependable butt pad, with the ability to change the length of the pull on a gun stock, in seconds. It provides a storage area in the butt stock of the firearm, that is easy opened, without the use of any hand tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Inventor: Don Keaton
  • Patent number: 6494403
    Abstract: Device for aircraft thrust reovery capable of linking a turboshaft engine and an engine strut. A device for thrust recovery (16) linking a turboshaft engine to an aircraft engine strut comprising an attachment fitting (22) fixed to an engine strut, a control bar (38) articulated on the attachment fittings (22) and two coupling rods (24) linking the control bar (38) to the central engine casing, almost along the longitudinal axis of the latter. Links with play are envisaged between each of the coupling rods (24) and the attachment fitting (22), to ensure transmission of thrust forces in the event of rupture of one of the parts of the device. These links with play comprise pivoting axes (48) which intersect the longitudinal axes of the corresponding coupling rods (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Eads Aribus SA
    Inventors: Pascal Jule, Stéphane Levert
  • Patent number: 6488234
    Abstract: An apparatus for preventing trolleys of aircraft during turbulence from leaving the floor of said aircraft includes a securing lock installed on a trolley of an aircraft for sensing the gravity on the trolley. Control is provided to prevent the action of the trolley from leaving the floor of the aircraft during turbulence. An actuation of the securing lock occurs for preventing the trolley from leaving the floor of the aircraft during turbulence. The securing lock includes a blade locking system for preventing the trolley on an aircraft during turbulence from leaving the floor of the aircraft by holding the trolley onto the seats adjacent to an aisle with extendable blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: The National University of Singapore
    Inventor: Xiaoping Li
  • Patent number: 6484971
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for suppressing fluid flow separation from a surface of a body during flow of a fluid along the surface of the body. At least one barrier member (for example, at least one tab) is provided extending away from the surface of the body and into a separated flow region adjacent the body surface, but not into a smooth flow region beyond the separated flow region. Where a plurality of barrier members are used, the barrier members are located spaced from each other along the direction of flow of the fluid. The barrier member suppresses upstream movement of the separation point between smooth flow along the body surface and separated flow. A chamber extending from the body surface and into the body can be positioned at the barrier member, to provide a place for vortices in the fluid flow to settle down. The barrier member can be moved from a position where it is co-planar with the body surface to a position where it extends away from the surface into the separated flow region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Inventor: Thombi Layukallo
  • Patent number: 6484969
    Abstract: A baggage storage system especially for an aircraft passenger cabin includes a lowerable baggage compartment, a guide arrangement along which the motion of the baggage compartment is guided between an upper closed position and a lower open position, a powered drive unit, and a coupling arrangement that selectively couples or decouples the drive unit relative to the baggage compartment. With the drive unit coupled to the baggage compartment, a full powered raising and lowering of the baggage compartment is achieved. If the drive unit fails, it is decoupled from the baggage compartment, so that the baggage compartment can be manually raised and lowered. A locking latch arrangement securely latches the baggage compartment in the upper closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Wilfried Sprenger, Bernd Roessner