Patents by Inventor Charles M. Ringer

Charles M. Ringer 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: 9428301
    Abstract: A self-destructive aquatic device for use in a water environment is formed with a body having a metallic portion and a covering preventing exposure of the metallic portion of the body from the water environment. A gap in the covering is used to expose the metallic portion of the body to the water environment. The covering has a cathodic property with respect to the metallic portion of the body, so that the gap and the covering establishing a cathodic-anodic ratio of areas exposed to the water environment to promote erosion of the metallic portion of the body in the water environment. This, in turn, results in controlled break-up of the aquatic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Charles M. Ringer, Peyton W. Hall, Earl E. Floren
  • Patent number: 9400075
    Abstract: A remotely actuated fill and release device and deployment method can include a disc manifold having an upper surface, a lower surface and an outer circumferential surface. A fill passageway in the fill manifold can extend radially inward from the outer circumferential surface and can merge into a conical chamber, which can also be formed in disc manifold. The conical chamber can be formed with a maximum diameter proximate the upper surface and a minimum diameter proximate said lower surface. A release nose can be inserted into said conical chamber and fill bladder can be attached to the release nose. A FRANGIBOLT® can extend through the disc manifold and can be threaded into the release nose. A voltage can be selectively applied to the FRANGIBOLT®, which can fracture in response to the voltage, to selectively detach the release nose and fill bladder from the disc manifold without moving parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Nathan T. Miller, Gregory W. Anderson, Sean Herndon, Charles M. Ringer
  • Patent number: 8714834
    Abstract: An optical coupler is used to transmit optical data across a temporary connection. A housing is configured with a transparent interface window and positioned in front of a receiving optical coupler so that optical signals pass through the transparent interface window for reception by receiving optical coupler. The receiving optical coupler has a capability of accepting alignment errors caused by aligning the housing with a mating housing in an aquatic environment. Alignment is achieved via an alignment mechanism that mechanical positions the mating optical coupling components with sufficient alignment accuracy to permit the optical coupler to receive and transmit signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Steven J. Cowen, Samuel R. Bona, Charles M. Ringer
  • Patent number: 8695526
    Abstract: A self-scuttling device can include a pressure hull that can define an internal void having an internal pressure PVOID. The device can be disposed in an underwater environment having a pressure PAMBIENT that is greater than PVOID. The pressure hull can be formed with a fill port, which can be selectively opened to flood the void. A reactive agent can be disposed within the void. The reactive agent can be chosen to mix with seawater and establish a solution that corrodes the pressure hull when the reactive agent is exposed to seawater by flooding the void. The reactive agent can be disposed within a watertight container, which maintains watertight integrity at PVOID, but loses watertight integrity at the greater PAMBIENT. When this occurs, the reactive agent becomes exposed to seawater to establish the solution within the void that corrodes the pressure hull.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Charles M. Ringer, Earl Floren, Peyton Hall
  • Publication number: 20130279846
    Abstract: An optical coupler is used to transmit optical data across a temporary connection. A housing is configured with a transparent interface window and positioned in front of a receiving optical coupler so that optical signals pass through the transparent interface window for reception by receiving optical coupler. The receiving optical coupler has a capability of accepting alignment errors caused by aligning the housing with a mating housing in an aquatic environment. Alignment is achieved via an alignment mechanism that mechanical positions the mating optical coupling components with sufficient alignment accuracy to permit the optical coupler to receive and transmit signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: Steven J. Cowen, Samuel R. Bona, Charles M. Ringer