Patents by Inventor Debra L. Carraway

Debra L. Carraway 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).

  • Active thermal isolation for temperature responsive sensors
    Patent number: 5349851
    Abstract: A temperature responsive sensor is located in the airflow over the specified surface of a body and is maintained at a constant temperature. An active thermal isolator is located between this temperature responsive sensor and the specified surface of the body. The temperature of this isolator is controlled to reduce conductive heat flow from the temperature responsive sensor to the body. This temperature control includes (1) operating the isolator at the same temperature as the constant temperature of the sensor and (2) establishing a fixed boundary temperature which is either (a) less than or equal to or (b) slightly greater than the sensor constant temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Scott D. Martinson, David L. Gray, Debra L. Carraway, Daniel C. Reda
  • Active thermal isolation for temperature responsive sensors
    Patent number: 5311772
    Abstract: A temperature responsive sensor is located in the airflow over the specified surface of a body and is maintained at a constant temperature. An active thermal isolator is located between this temperature responsive sensor and the specified surface of the body. The temperature of this isolator is controlled to reduce conductive heat flow from the temperature responsive sensor to the body. This temperature control includes (1) operating the isolator at the same temperature as the constant temperature of the sensor and (2) establishing a fixed boundary temperature which is either (a) less than or equal to or (b) slightly greater than the sensor constant temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Scott D. Martinson, David L. Gray, Debra L. Carraway, Daniel C. Reda
  • Crossflow vorticity sensor
    Patent number: 4727751
    Abstract: A crossflow vorticity sensor is provided for the detection of crossflow vorticity characteristics. The crossflow vorticity sensor is comprised of crossflow sensors (10) which are non-invasively adhered to swept wing laminar surface (12) either singularly, in multi-element strips (11), in polar patterns (40), or orthogonal patterns (41). These crossflow sensors (10) are comprised of hot-film sensor elements (18) which operate as a constant temperature anemometer circuit to detect heat transfer rate changes. Accordingly, crossflow vorticity characteristics are determined via cross-correlation. In addition, the crossflow sensors (10) have a thickness which does not exceed a maximum value h in order to avoid contamination of downstream crossflow sensors (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1988
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Bruce J. Holmes, Debra L. Carraway, Harlan K. Holmes, Thomas C. Moore