Patents by Inventor Andre Winaver

Andre Winaver has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5317973
    Abstract: The detonating device for a secondary explosive charge includes energy reservoir means and exploding foil igniter means coupled to the energy reservoir means by an optical commutator functioning in photo-conduction mode. The device may be extended to any number of separate detonation channels, and each detonation channel may be supplied with optical pulse beams generated by a single laser source or by separate, dedicated laser sources. The optical pulse beams are guided via optical fibers that may vary in length in accordance with preprogrammed detonation timing sequences. The invention finds particular application in the field of high safety detonation systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Assignee: Thomson-Brandt Armements
    Inventors: Andre Winaver, deceased, Dominique Broussoux
  • Patent number: 5189248
    Abstract: The invention concerns a perforating munition for targets possessing high mechanical strength. A perforating munition, released at very low altitude to prevent destruction by ground-air defense systems, possesses a braking system constituted by a parachute (24) to give the velocity vector of the munition a position that is as close as possible to the vertical, thus enabling an improvement in the effectiveness of the munition on impact. To improve the positioning of the velocity vector with respect to the vertical, the munition has a curvature correction device comprising a back projector (13) that is fixedly joined to the rear part (2) of the munition and is positioned in a ring-like way around a front part (1) of the munition, so as to reduce the curvature of the munition in order to increase the effectiveness of the munition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1993
    Assignee: Thomson-Brandt Armements
    Inventors: Jean Deffayet, Alain Lepicard, Andre Winaver
  • Patent number: 5092237
    Abstract: An electropyrotechnic device for sequentially triggering the operation of a battery of gas generators. The ignition of double-base propellant blocks is obtained by the combination of EFI and an IFOC, arranged so that the airtight barrier between the cavity containing the donor secondary explosive and the downstream chamber containing the secondary receiving explosive is only one part of the closing element of the back end carrying the nozzles, integral with the ring. The control electronics of the EFI are contained inside a housing capping the back end of the powder generator with the entire system being closed by a cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignee: Thomson-Brandt Armements
    Inventors: Denis Beaufay, Jean Boucard, Jean Holtz, Andre Winaver
  • Patent number: 4989492
    Abstract: The disclosure concerns the field of charges releasable from an aircraft to which they are fixed and, particularly, the keel beam safety device that prevents the activation of the charge when it is hooked on beneath the aircraft. A mechanical safety device for the keel beam consists in using the driving force of a sensor that is rotationally free in a support, by means of cable going into said sensor, one end of which is fixed to an aircraft and the other end to means for activating a fuse for the firing of a charge. To this cable, there is fixed a ball which, when a tensile force is exerted on the cable, comes into contact with the sensor and draws it, after the unlocking of the holding system, through a sufficient tensile force exerted on the cable, into contact with the aircraft when the charge is fixed beneath the aircraft, thus preventing any additional movement of the cable. When the charge is released, the cable can be pulled freely and enables the charge to be activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Assignee: Thomson-Brandt Armements
    Inventors: Jean Boucard, Jean Deliance, Andre Winaver
  • Patent number: 4981079
    Abstract: The disclosed projectile has a tube forming a mortar, a munition contained in the tube, at least three deployable fins, solidly joined to the tube, and firing means triggering the ejection of the munition. During operation, when the projectile, released from an aircraft, lands on the ground for example, the fins form a pedestal in the mortar tube and, upon the command of the firing means, the munition is ejected to a certain distance from the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1991
    Assignee: Thomson-Brandt Armements
    Inventor: Andre Winaver
  • Patent number: 4867035
    Abstract: A charge releasable from a carrier, such as a charge having to be activated at the moment of release, is provided with an activating device with a safety system to prevent its untimely activation. The triggering means are activated by means of the activating device comprising a cable connected to the carrier. At the moment of release, the cable controls the activating device which initiates the triggering means by means of an internal mechanical link. All the elements are placed inside the charge. Moreover, the activating device constitutes a safety device to prevent the activation of the charge so long as it is not released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignee: Thomson-Brandt Armements
    Inventors: Jean Boucard, Andre Delaitre, Jean Deliance, Andre Winaver