Patents by Inventor James L. Kirkland

James L. Kirkland 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: 4990852
    Abstract: Object detecting and classifying apparatus is disclosed wherein signals, ulting from electromagnetic coupling between a search unit and an elongated, narrow, conductive object, are processed so as to provide automatic indication of detection of an object of the type mentioned. The apparatus discriminates against false indications from background and spurious signals and against signals from objects of other types by utilizing search unit means that produces successive signals having predetermined time relation to one another only when an object of the class sought is crossed, together with signal processing logic means responsive thereto, and recording and/or indicating means responsive to the logic means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1973
    Date of Patent: February 5, 1991
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: James L. Kirkland
  • Patent number: 4972388
    Abstract: A marine mine control wire tagging system is disclosed as including a traitter and a receiver, a mobile underwater vehicle having a launcher mounted thereon, a radio frequency signal tag loaded in said launcher, a sensor and a fire control system for launching said tag upon the detection of said marine mine control wire by the aforesaid sensor. If so desired, said transmitter and receiver may be mounted on a boat which also tows said underwater vehicle to a position in proximity with said control wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 20, 1990
    Assignee: The United States of Americas as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: James L. Kirkland
  • Patent number: 4970702
    Abstract: A sweep device for river mines of the command type is described. The device mploys two spaced, parallel blades which support the sweep device on the bottom of the river as it is towed therealong. The blades constitute laminated cutting elements which provide a signal of the presence of a command wire as it is severed on contact, as well as serve as electrodes for supplying an electric signal to sweep the mine. An electrical circuit is also described to process the signals from the blades, so as to distinguish between small metallic debris and metallic bodies bridging the two blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1968
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1990
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: James L. Kirkland
  • Patent number: 4970701
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for locating a wire that is partially submerged wit water and partially extends out thereof which includes a transmitter for broadcasting radio frequency electromagnetic signals, a phase gradiometer for receiving said radio frequency electromagnetic signals after they have been received by that portion of said wire that extends out of said water and re-radiated by that portion of said wire that is submerged therein and for timely producing a pair of output signals in response thereto, a pair of constant output amplifiers for processing said pair of gradiometer output signals to identical useful levels, a phase comparator for determining the phase relationship between said pair of processed output signals, and a readout for indicating said phase relationship. The aforesaid phase gradiometer may be housed in a probe-type of mobile underwater vehicle which is towed by a tractor vehicle in such manner as to cause said phase gradiometer to traverse an underwater course in search of said wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1971
    Date of Patent: November 13, 1990
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: James L. Kirkland
  • Patent number: 4952938
    Abstract: An underwater, towable wire detector wherein a pick-up coil is carried in R.F. (radio frequency) signal shield that is positioned by gravity to receive only those emanations receivable upwardly through an R.F. window therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1976
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1990
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: James L. Kirkland
  • Patent number: 4606293
    Abstract: A device for clamping a marker to a mine mooring cable upon severing by a tter utilizes a V-shaped body having a liner that is explosively deformed into clamping engagement with the cable in response to cutter actuation. A smoke flare is included and ignited to provide a prolonged locating signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1986
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: James L. Kirkland
  • Patent number: 4492111
    Abstract: A free falling or projectable penetrometer for simultaneously determining a multiplicity of ground characteristics during penetration and retracking cycles and while at rest following full penetration. The apparatus employs a multitude of sensing elements and is further characterized by the presence of at least three electrode pairs one aligned with the central axis of the penetrometer with the other two pairs being positioned orthogonally in a common plane that is itself perpendicular to the central axis. An onboard power supply is included together with telemetry equipment to generate ground characteristics and transmit such signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1985
    Inventor: James L. Kirkland
  • Patent number: 4107607
    Abstract: A magnetometer wherein inductance of a resonant circuit is made sensitive changes in magnetic field to vary an oscillator operating frequency. The magnetometer utilizes a ferromagnetic sensor element that is characterized by high permeability in weak magnetic fields when the element is maintained at predetermined elevated temperatures near the Curie point of the element material and also exhibits a hysteresis curve having a steep slope in the region of field strengths on the order of the earth's magnetic field. The preferred embodiment includes resistive heating of the element and use of substantially pure iron as the element material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1978
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: James L. Kirkland
  • Patent number: 4021725
    Abstract: A vehicle carried metal object sensing system wherein sensing of magnetic elds of different polarity or of ferrous and non-ferrous objects results in distinctive colors on a cathode ray tube display. Deflection signals are generated in accordance with vehicle travel and field scan to provide successive frames of a map-like display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1977
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: James L. Kirkland
  • Patent number: 3983750
    Abstract: A water wave height and fluid level measuring system is disclosed as having buoyant support mast which floats partially above water and partially below water in a substantially vertical disposition. A radio frequency transmitter is mounted on said mast above said water, and a plurality of radio frequency receivers are mounted on said mast at spatially disposed positions along said mast and submerged within said water. Telemetering, receiving data processing, and readout means are effectively connected to said receivers for communicating the output signals therefrom to predetermined remote or other locations, with said output signals being analog signals which represent water wave height or other fluid level at any given instant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1975
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1976
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: James L. Kirkland
  • Patent number: 3934288
    Abstract: A system for timely holding and releasing an object to be deployed in a petermined environmental medium is disclosed as incorporating a platform, a rotatable drum, and supports for said rotatable drum effectively mounted on said platform. A curved arm is attached to said drum at one extremity thereof, and a latch mechanism is releasably connected to the other extremity thereof. A rope extends around said curved arm, from which the object to be deployed is suspended within a shute, barrel, or slide, the latter of which may or may not be a part of the aforesaid platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1974
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1976
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: James L. Kirkland