Patents by Inventor Daniel F. Lawless

Daniel F. Lawless 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: 6966526
    Abstract: The Dragless Flight Control System for Flying Objects utilizes paired fins that are mounted to rotate in opposite directions. When no lift is desired during the object's flight, the fins are completely retracted into their housings that are recessed into the body of the object. This minimizes the drag. The fins are set to a maximum no-stall angle relative to the body axis of the flying object. To provide lift and other flight controls, such as roll and yaw, the fins are selectively exposed outside the exterior skin of the flying object by being rotated on their axes, the two fins in a pair always being rotated in opposite directions. Varying the amount of exposed area of the counter-rotating fins can generate lift effect that is proportional to the exposed area and similar to that produced by the current, permanently-extended standard rotational fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Daniel F. Lawless
  • Patent number: 6921052
    Abstract: The Dragless Flight Control System for Flying Objects utilizes paired fins that are mounted to rotate in opposite directions. When no lift is desired during the object's flight, the fins are completely retractable into their housings recessed into the body of the object. This minimizes the drag. The fins are set to a maximum no-stall angle relative to the body axis of the flying object. To provide lift and other flight controls, such as roll and yaw, the fins are selectively exposed outside the exterior skin of the flying object by being rotated on their axes, the two fins in a pair always being rotated in opposite directions. Varying the amount of exposed area of the counter-rotating fins can generate lift effect that is proportional to the exposed area and similar to that produced by current permanently extended standard rotational fins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Daniel F. Lawless
  • Patent number: 6646242
    Abstract: The Rotational Canted-Joint Missile (RCJM) Control System utilizes a single or multiple body joints that rotate in planes that are not perpendicular to the missile body axis. The result is the deflection of a portion of the missile body for flight control purposes. The canted interface plane between any two adjacent movable sections of the missile body and a joint at the interface plane that allows one of the sections to be rotated by a pre-determined angle with respect to the other section comprise a rotational plane mechanism that offers an inclined bearing plane with a large mechanical advantage over typical “brute force” ball joint methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2003
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Roger P. Berry, Daniel F. Lawless, Stephen C. Cayson, Lamar M. Auman, J. C. Dunaway, Mark D. Dixon, David A. Gibson
  • Publication number: 20030160129
    Abstract: The Rotational Canted-Joint Missile (RCJM) Control System utilizes a single or multiple body joints that rotate in planes that are not perpendicular to the missile body axis. The result is the deflection of a portion of the missile body for flight control purposes. The canted interface plane between any two adjacent movable sections of the missile body and a joint at the interface plane that allows one of the sections to be rotated by a pre-determined angle with respect to the other section comprise a rotational plane mechanism that offers an inclined bearing plane with a large mechanical advantage over typical “brute force” ball joint methods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2002
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventors: Roger P. Berry, Daniel F. Lawless, Stephen C. Cayson, Lamar M. Auman, J. C. Dunaway, Mark D. Dixon, David A. Gibson
  • Patent number: 6467722
    Abstract: The Magnetostrictive Missile Guidance System pivots the missile nosecone about a multi-directional joint on the missile axis to produce aerodynamic control forces for missile flight path control. The nosecone is driven by magnetostrictive materials in conjunction with displacement amplification devices. The determination of the nosecone deflection angle necessary to achieve any change in the flight path is made by a sensing device that produces position signals and a guidance computer that produces the desired flight path command signals. The sensing device senses the current position of the nosecone and this position signal is compared with the command signal by the computer to yield an error signal, which is indicative of the difference between the two input signals. Then appropriate magnetic field is applied to the magnetostrictive materials to cause them to grow in length and deflect the nosecone until the error signal is eliminated and flight path is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Roger P. Berry, Daniel F. Lawless, Stephen C. Cayson, Lamar M. Auman
  • Patent number: 5014557
    Abstract: An oil pressure transducer with an improved composite base portion for mounting the transducer to a vehicle engine or the like to receive pressurized oil. The composite base has a skeletal component with a particularly effective configuration to permit sealing with an encircling molded elastomeric portion. In this manner, a highly leak resistant transducer base is produced having a metal portion for convenient threading into a threaded aperture of a vehicle engine and having an elastomeric portion adapted for ready attachment to a remaining portion of the transducer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Assignee: Acustar, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel F. Lawless
  • Patent number: 4986126
    Abstract: An improved electronic oil pressure transducer with a circuit board supporting a power transistor and with a metal heat sink attached to the transducer so that a portion thereof extends through an aperture in the transducer housing and into intimate contact with the power transistor to transfer heat from the transistor to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1991
    Assignee: Acustar, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel F. Lawless
  • Patent number: 4866989
    Abstract: A transducer for sensing fluid pressure including an enclosure forming housing, a cup-shaped rubber-like mount having an end wall and an annular side wall for supporting a pressure sensing electronic chip against the inner end wall surface of the mount. The chip is supported against the end wall in covering relation to a small opening in the end wall which connects one side of the chip with atmospheric pressure. A layer of non-hardening sealant gel extending between the inner side wall surface completely covers the chip and transmits fluid pressure to a second surface of the chip but inhibits fluid contact and leakage past the chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignee: Chrysler Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Daniel F. Lawless
  • Patent number: 4843883
    Abstract: A liquid fluid level sensor responds to differential pressure forces exerted on a diaphragm as produced by exposure of liquid fluid to one side and of atmosphere to the other side. An arched resistance card is movable with the diaphragm to engage the mid-portion of a metal spring which progressively overlies greater portions of the card as the diaphragm moves thereby changing the resistance of a circuit including the card and the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 4, 1989
    Assignee: Chrysler Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Alfred H. Glover, Daniel F. Lawless
  • Patent number: 4841771
    Abstract: A vehicle fuel tank with a fuel level sensor is disclosed including a housing rotatably supporting a molded crank arm and a pivotal float rod attached thereto. The crank arm has a bore for insertion of one end of the crank arm and an apertured metal insert molded therein for providing a gripping interference fit between the inserted rod and the crank arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Assignee: Chrysler Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Alfred H. Glover, Daniel F. Lawless
  • Patent number: 4793639
    Abstract: A coupling device for tubing for use in pressurized fluid systems and having a locking and unlocking actuator lever supported by an annulus in a flexible manner producing a mild bending movement of the annulus corresponding to pivotal movements of the lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1988
    Assignee: Chrysler Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Alfred H. Glover, Joseph T. Betterton, Daniel F. Lawless, Anthony M. Michalovic
  • Patent number: 4706707
    Abstract: A combination fuel delivery, pick-up and fuel level sensor of the type including conduits at least one of which is formed in a helix configuration so as to locate and bias the inlet closely adjacent the fuel tank bottom irrespective of differences in the depth dimension of associated fuel tanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1987
    Assignee: Chrysler Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph T. Betterton, Alan W. Dykoski, Alfred H. Glover, Daniel F. Lawless, William D. McKee, Troy T. Watson