Patents by Inventor Clair K. Lair

Clair K. Lair 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: 4522356
    Abstract: A clustered munition in a system for low altitude aerial delivery, which releases multiple rocket powered missiles, each having the capability to cruise at a constant altitude and search for a target. Once a target is identified, the missile homes on and strikes the target. In the preferred form the target seeking means is a radiometric seeker operating in the millimeter wavelength range, in which metal or similarly reflective targets stand out against the background and provide a significant signal which is used to program the terminal action of the missile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1973
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1985
    Assignee: General Dynamics, Pomona Division
    Inventors: Clair K. Lair, Jules Jonas, Keith D. Anderson
  • Patent number: 4232605
    Abstract: A warhead orientation device and its use in a directional attack mine are disclosed. The device includes a warhead launchable in a "pop-up" mode from a launch tube. The launch tube and warhead have a cooperating pin and helical groove system which imparts spin to the warhead during ejection from the tube. A stationary "fly wheel" type mass is attached to the spinning warhead. A cooperating pin and straight groove system on the mass and tube prevent rotation of the mass during ejection. This combination of spinning warhead and decoupled stationary mass provide a stable platform in one axis. Thus, suitable sensors and firing mechanisms may be used to cause a directional firing mechanism in the warhead to fire in a selected direction after pop-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1971
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1980
    Assignee: General Dynamics Corporation Pomona Division
    Inventor: Clair K. Lair