Patents by Inventor C. Clifford Ness

C. Clifford Ness 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: 6612251
    Abstract: A mobile undersea habitat includes an elongated vessel having a hull providing an elongated recess opening downwardly to the sea, and a cooperatively dimensioned elongated column seated within the recess. The column includes an elongated structural member with a conduit extending along its length and an elongated panel providing a closure for the hull opening which also functions as a support member in the column. A support member pivotally mounts one end of the support member in the hull, and a pivot pivotally mounts one end of the structural member in the hull at a point spaced from the support member pivot. A habitat is provided at the other end of the column and it is pivotally mounted to the structural and support member so that it maintains a horizontal attitude at any angular portion of the column. The conduit provides a passage from the vessel to the habitat in which a transport capsule carries personnel and supplies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Inventor: C. Clifford Ness
  • Patent number: 6371041
    Abstract: An undersea streamline vehicle having a unique system for gliding ascent, gliding descent, both with and without engine power, and for hovering in the sea for exploratory or research purposes by the provision in the vehicle of buoyancy chambers or bladders offset from the vehicle center of gravity, wherein the chambers include a piston element in a cylinder open to the sea environment. A control system effects selected positioning of the piston, thereby to regulate inflow of the sea into the cylinder or expulsion of sea water from the cylinder, thereby to vary the buoyancy of the vehicle vis-à-vis its center of gravity to control the rate of glide of the vehicle upwardly or downwardly, or to attain a stationary hover position. Ailerons and tail planes facilitate controlled direction of travel. A compressed air system precludes leakage of seawater into the buoyancy chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Inventor: C. Clifford Ness
  • Patent number: 5477798
    Abstract: A submersible or submarine vessel having a unique pressure hull formed from a plurality of truncated spherical cells having at least one opening, wherein said cells are connected together in a generally loop array with said openings in confronting relation to define a interconnected internal space for utilization by personnel, equipment, or machinery. When said connected cells define a loop array having an open central area, dome means enclose the central area permitting utilization thereof, or, a further spherical cell or cells are disposed in the central area with access thereinto from a cell in the loop array for utilization, whereby at all times convexly curved spherical surfaces are exposed to high hydrostatic pressures, thereby to provide a maximum strength pressure hull.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Inventor: C. Clifford Ness