Patents by Inventor Bruce E. Sandman

Bruce E. Sandman 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: 6904860
    Abstract: A winglet for mounting on a trailing end of a flexible line to be towed by an underwater vehicle includes an internal collar member for connection to an inside surface of the line at the trailing end thereof, an outer collar member for connection to an outside surface of the line outboard of the internal collar, and connection means for fixing the internal and outer collar members to the line trailing end. A plurality of fins are mounted on an outside surface of the outer collar member and extend outwardly from the outer collar member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Neil J. Dubois, Bruce E. Sandman
  • Patent number: 6532886
    Abstract: A system of sensors and weapons in the form of individual cells forming a multi-functional cellular skin is provided to cover the outer surface of an underwater vehicle. The cells are engineered to have specific functional capabilities, e.g., acoustic sensing cells, communications cells, munitions cells, control cells and motive cells, and are electromagnetically attached to the vehicle. The functional arrangement of the cells types and the number of layers will be dependent on the desired capabilities and the overall mission of the vehicle. Cells may be deployed from the vehicle individually or in functional groups by decoupling appropriate cells from the vehicle. Once decoupled, motive cells can transport themselves and other cells as necessary, to positions remote from the vehicle. Groups of cells can be deployed to specific locations and arrayed in specific configurations by motive cells, allowing the vehicle to remain in a standoff position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: George C. McNamara, Bruce E. Sandman, Bernard J. Myers
  • Publication number: 20020170481
    Abstract: A system of sensors and weapons in the form of individual cells forming a multi-functional cellular skin is provided to cover the outer surface of an underwater vehicle. The cells are engineered to have specific functional capabilities, e.g., acoustic sensing cells, communications cells, munitions cells, control cells and motive cells, and are electromagnetically attached to the vehicle. The functional arrangement of the cells types and the number of layers will be dependent on the desired capabilities and the overall mission of the vehicle. Cells may be deployed from the vehicle individually or in functional groups by decoupling appropriate cells from the vehicle. Once decoupled, motive cells can transport themselves and other cells as necessary, to positions remote from the vehicle. Groups of cells can be deployed to specific locations and arrayed in specific configurations by motive cells, allowing the vehicle to remain in a standoff position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Publication date: November 21, 2002
    Inventors: George C. McNamara, Bruce E. Sandman, Bernard J. Myers
  • Patent number: 6349791
    Abstract: A submarine bow dome acoustic sensor assembly comprises an outer hull bow portion, an inner pressure hull wall extending athwartships and in conjunction with the outer hull bow portion defining a free-flood compartment, and an acoustic bow panel disposed in the compartment and connected to the pressure hull wall by acoustically isolating supports. A laser scanner is disposed in the compartment and is oriented so as to project a laser beam onto a surface of the acoustic bow panel, and a sensor is disposed in the compartment and oriented so as to receive reflections of the laser beam off the acoustic panel and to transmit data from which a position of a sound generating source can be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Daniel M. Glenning, Bruce E. Sandman